a) Briefly explain ONE historical event or development in the period
1824 to 1840 that demonstrated the spread of democracy and the
“politics of the common man.”
(b) Briefly explain how ONE specific group in the period 1824 to 1840
did not share in the spread of democracy and the “politics of the
common man.”
(c) Briefly explain ONE historical event or development in the period
1824 to 1840 that demonstrated the growth of political parties.
(a) One historical event that demonstrated the spread of democracy and the "politics of the common man" in the period 1824 to 1840 was the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. Jackson's election is often cited as the ascendance of the "common man" in American politics due to his background and stance as a champion of the ordinary citizen against the American elite. Unlike his predecessors, Jackson did not come from a prominent colonial family. He was seen as a self-made man, a hero of the War of 1812, and a representative of the frontier spirit. Moreover, his presidency saw the expanded use of the spoils system and the practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs, as well as the push for the dismantling of elite institutions like the Bank of the United States. Jackson's appeal to the average voter was also facilitated by changes in state laws that decreased property requirements for voting, thereby enfranchising a large segment of the white male population.
(b) One specific group that did not share in the spread of democracy and the "politics of the common man" during this period was African Americans, both enslaved and free. Despite the democratic rhetoric of the era, African Americans were largely disenfranchised and marginalized. In the South, slavery was a legal institution, and slaves had no rights or political voice. In the northern states, while slavery was largely abolished during this period, free African Americans were often prevented from voting due to discriminatory state laws that imposed property qualifications and other restrictions specifically targeting them. The rights and civic participation of African Americans would not see substantial support until much later in the United States history.
(c) One historical event that demonstrated the growth of political parties in the period 1824 to 1840 was the bitter presidential election of 1828, which solidified the emergence of the Democratic Party under Andrew Jackson and the opposing National Republican Party, which would later develop into the Whig Party. Jackson's supporters had organized to form the Democratic Party, which advocated for a more direct democracy and opposed institutions they felt represented privilege and aristocracy. In response to the organized power of the Democrats, opponents of Jackson developed their own political apparatus that eventually became known as the Whigs. This period marked the formation of a two-party system that would dominate American politics, with campaign tactics, party machinery, and intense political rivalries that have characterized U.S. elections ever since. The evolution of these parties represented an institutionalization of political differences and contributed to the rise of a more modern political system, complete with a broader participation of the electorate in decision-making processes.