Jacksonian Politics

5 Pages 1344 Words

To understand the rapid changes the United States experienced during Jackson’s presidency, one must consider the upbringing and beliefs of Andrew Jackson, the cultural shifts that took place among Americans, and the dramatic political revolution that took place during this era. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America attempted to describe these changes to the world, as well as outline his predictions for future generations. In his composition, Tocqueville describes the overwhelming personal freedom that Americans enjoy, and how the political system as well as everyday life is shaped by this privilege. European ideals at the time were vastly different because of their aristocratic political system, where average citizens did not engage in politics at any level. When researching American local governments, Tocqueville was amazed by its structure as well as the enthusiasm and interest of its constituents, although obsession with equality led to the election of undesirable candidates.
One might accept that the statement above implies that Andrew Jackson should have been considered an undesirable candidate because of his tough upbringing and rebellious views on American liberty. However, as a child of poor immigrants who worked hard to obtain an education and proved himself as an American military hero reflects the American dream of today as well as in his era. Jackson’s image as a tough frontier hero set him apart for the learned and privileged gentlemen from Virginia and Massachusetts who had monopolized the presidency up to 1828.
The profound economic growth after 1815 gave hope of prosperity to the common man and woman. Historians point to the booming population of the Northeast region as the major factor for change in transportation and western expansion, as small farmers fought to purchase new lands to earn greater profits. Jobs became plentiful, particularly in the manufacturing and railroad industries, as transpo...