208 UNITED STATES HISTORY: AP ® EDITION
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
Questions 1–3 refer to the following excerpt.
“Our citizens who have not yet voted, have one more day in which they
may exercise the privilege of determining whom they will have for their
rulers. The old party lines are nearly obliterated, but there has sprung up
a new interest which is formidable, both for the number of its adherents,
and the disorganizing purposes by which they are actuated. By throwing
open the polls to every man that walks, we have placed the power in
the hands of those who have neither property, talents, nor influence in
other circumstances; and who require in their public offices no higher
qualifications than they possess themselves.”
New York Journal of Commerce, November 7, 1829
Cultural Influence Contemporary historians have used quantitative
analysis of voting returns to show that increased voter participation was evident
in local elections years before 1828 and did not reach a peak until the election of
1840, an election that the Whig Party won. Some historians argue that religion
and ethnicity were more important than economic class in shaping votes. For
example, Catholic immigrants objected to the imposition of the Puritan moral
code (e.g., temperance) by the native-born Protestants.
Economic Clash Recent historians see Jackson’s popularity in the 1830s as
a reaction of subsistence farmers and urban workers against threatening forces
of economic change. A capitalist, or market, economy was taking shape in the
early years of the 19th century. This market revolution divided the electorate.
Some, including many Whigs, wanted a greater role for business owners.
Jackson’s veto of the bank captured popular fears about the rise of capitalism.
Support an Argument Explain two perspectives on the factors that caused the
expansion of democracy in the early 19th century.
REFLECT ON THE LEARNING OBJECTIVE
1. Explain what brought about changes in democracy during this period,
and identify the changes.
KEY TERMS BY THEME
Common Man (NAT, POL)
common man
universal White male suffrage
party nominating convention
“King Caucus”
popular election of president
Politics (POL)
Anti-Masonic Party
Workingmen’s Party
popular campaigning
spoils system
rotation in office
209TOPIC 4.7 ExPANDING DEMOCRACY
1. The remarks in the excerpt were most likely made in response to which
of the following?
(A) Popular campaigning
(B) Universal White male suffrage
(C) Expanding caucus system
(D) Return of a two-party system
2. Which of the following developments most directly supports the claim
in the excerpt that “the old party lines are nearly obliterated”?
(A) The rise of the Federalist Party, particularly in New England
(B) The increased use of the spoils system to fill government jobs
(C) The idea of rotation in office as advocated by Andrew Jackson
(D) The rise of new parties such as the Workingmen’s Party
3. Which of the following statements about the period 1824 to 1840 could
be used to modify or refute the claim in the last sentence of the excerpt?
(A) More states used popular elections to choose members of the
Electoral College.
(B) Political parties began to use conventions to nominate candidates.
(C) The number of votes in presidential elections increased sevenfold.
(D) The opportunities for women and African Americans to participate
in politics remained unchanged.
1. (B) Universal White male suffrage
2. (D) The rise of new parties such as the Workingmen's Party
3. (C) The number of votes in presidential elections increased sevenfold.