Jacksonian Democracy Outline Notes

jacksonian democracy and the age of reform 1820-1850

conflicts present in this era: slavery expansion imperialism marginalization of blacks women NA and laborers.
aka Era of Good Feelings.
series of reforms : social political economic
grassroots (what is grass roots) series of attempts to make awareness of social political economic mistakes that were needed to be looked at.

two sources of reform:
policies and legislation
grassroots movements. private social groups that would take matters in their own hands
free america from britians subordinate relations
wanting to change Jefferson's democratic republican idea of aspirations of the common farmer.

North east and Northwest experience rapid improvements: rr canals erie canal - forms of transportation
cash crops South + cotton (ie)
Jacksonianism grew directly from the tensions it generated within white society= all because of the new ideas for cash crops. and modernization's of manufacturing and living.
confused: henry clay's american system. republican and harmed jacksonian dem.

"Jacksonian Democracy refers to the political philosophy of United States President Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson. Jackson's Democratic Party was resisted by the rival Whig Party. More broadly, the term refers to the period of the Second Party System (1824-1854) when Jacksonian philosophy was ascendant as well as the spirit of that era. It can be contrasted with the characteristics of Jeffersonian democracy, which dominated the previous political era. The Jacksonian era saw a great increase of respect and power for the common man, as the electorate expanded to include all white male adult citizens, rather than only land owners in that group.
In contrast to the Jeffersonian era, Jacksonian democracy promoted the strength of the executive branch and the Presidency at the expense of Congressional power, while also seeking to broaden the public's participation in government. Jacksonians believed in enfranchising all white men, rather than just the propertied class, and supported the patronage system that enabled politicians to appoint their supporters into administrative offices, arguing it would reduce the power of elites and prevent aristocracies from emerging. They demanded elected (not appointed) judges and rewrote many state constitutions to reflect the new values. In national terms the Jacksonians favored geographical expansion, justifying it in terms of Manifest Destiny. There was usually a consensus among both Jacksonians and Whigs that battles over slavery should be avoided. The Jacksonian Era lasted roughly from Jackson's 1828 election until the slavery issue became dominant after 1850 and the American Civil War dramatically reshaped American politics as the Third Party System emerged."

spoils system
indian removal act
veto power
unofficial advisers (kitchen cabinet)
bank war