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Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of our United States was elected in 18 28. During his presidency he brought about many changes in the federal government. Jacksonian democracy is recognized as the political movement toward greater democracy for the co mmon man. Jacksonian Democracy was developed at the beginning Of Jackson’s presidenc y and lasted from about 1 824 to the mid 1860’s. During this time there was a cry for equality fro m the impoverished peoples of america.
Although the Jacksonian Democrats were s omewhat able to rotect political democracy and equality of economic opportunity, they failed in their selfappointed roles as guardians of the Constitution and individual liberty. Th e documents, along with many of John Marshall’s supreme court decisions, clearly show the delusiveness of Jacksonian Democratic claims. In 1 832, John Marshall decided on Worcester v. Georgia. This case established national recognition for American Indian land as individual political communities. As a response to this ruling, Andrew Jackson was quoted as saying “John Marshall has made his dec ision; now let him enforce it!
Document G shows thatJackson then set in place the Indian Remo val act. Which although was deemed unconstitutional, was heavily enforced by Jackson. This demonstrates that Jackson clearly failed as guardian of the constitution because he knowingly overstepped his constitutional power and disregarded constitution and the individual liberty o f the natives. Jacksonian Democrats protected the political democracy of the nation. It show s this in Document D. Document D conveys to us that Harriet Matineau’s had a favora ble opinion of Jacksonian Democracy.
He approved of the spaciousness of poverty, and the rosperity of “all” men. Jacksonians only protected the interests of the poor and rich white man. They protected the interests of skilled laborers and farmers by removing the charters from the b anks. The national bank, which could only be truly beneficial for the wealthy, was vetoed in 1832. To an extentJackson also preserved individual liberty by enacting universal su ffrage to all white men. Jackson did not not protect the rights of any nonwhite men. Do cument E tells of the racial huh of irishmen and Blacks.
The individuals who weren’t white me n of the time, were reated with prejudice, malice, and persecution. They lacked individual liberty because of the racist ideals held by whites at the time. Jacksonian Democrats were accurate in their claim that they protected econo mic opportunity. Document G shows unconstitutional act of Indian removal-Altho ugh it was wrong, it shows that they were guardians of economic opportunity. The new free Ian ds potentially opts as farmland, increasing opportunity for farmers. This land could also be used for factories or housing. creating jobs and shelter for many free whites.
While dealing the ban , Jacksonians believed the bank placed too much power in the hands of the wealthy 1%. But vetoing the bank, he significantly benefited the lower and middle class. Andrew Jackson and the jacksonian democrats believed they were guardians of the constitution and individual rights, while also protecting political democracy an d economic opportunity. Jackson embraced and encouraged the common white man’s ec onomic opportunity by creating universal suffrage Although the Jacksonian Democrats were somewhat able to selfappointed roles as guardians of the Constitution and individual liberty.