1990 Apush Dbq

Paige Reinfeld
Jacksonian DBQ The uproar of the people of the U.S. was heard after the corrupted elections of 1824. It wasn’t until 1828, the year the Jacksonians came into power and satisfied the popular demand after a mudslinging battle against the aristocrats. The Jacksonian Democrats claimed they were guardians of the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberties, and equal economic opportunity, but the 1820’s and 1830’s put those claims to the test. The Jacksonian Democrats claimed they were guardians of the Constitution. Their strict interpretation led them against a national bank and towards power of individual states; however the national bank had already been proven constitutional in McCulloch v. Maryland. Jackson vetoed the Bank of the U.S. failing to guard the Constitution (Doc. B). Jackson also failed to guard the Constitution by not realizing the state’s rights were encroaching and threatening to the national government (Doc. C). Jackson went against the Constitution once again when he violated the 1st Amendment by having the U.S. Post Office conceal abolitionist mail supposed to be delivered to the South (Doc. F). When the Cherokee Indians appealed to the Supreme Court in Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Indians, but neither Georgia nor Jackson ever enforced or upheld their decision (Doc. G). Jacksonian Democrats did not guard the Constitution. Although the Jacksonian Democrats failed to guard the Constitution, they did uphold their claims of political democracy. When Jackson took office he expanded he right to vote, property was no longer a voting requirement. Jackson also held the first nominating conventions which were then adopted by the major political parties. Instead of appointed officials, people’s inauguration was used. Jackson implemented the spoils system which led to the most harmonious political system the United States had seen. One of the main reasons for Jackson’s popularity was his appeal to the working class. He believed in freeing them from aristocratic opposition and providing security (Doc. A). Even the British were impressed by Jackson’s guardianship of political democracy (Doc. D). Even though Jackson upheld a popular political democracy, he failed to guard individual liberties for everyone. Although the right to vote was expanded, it was still restricted to just white males. Jackson did little to help blacks, slaves, and immigrants (such as the Irish). When the Cherokee Indians were relocated, Jackson did nothing to protect their individual rights and did not enforce the ruling of the Supreme Court (Doc. F, Doc. G). Persecution of blacks and other minorities broke out in riots in some northern cities where violence was used against them (Doc. E). Jackson may have protected the common white male’s liberties, but did not guard everyone’s. Jacksonian Democrats claims to guard equal economic opportunity were upheld throughout the 1820’s and 1830’s. When Jackson vetoed the national bank, he did so with intention to protect the common people from an economy ruled by the rich or foreign. He believed the common man should have equal opportunity (Doc. B). Through the Supreme Court Case Bridge v. Bridge, Jackson encouraged economic by guaranteeing no company exclusive privileges, guarding equal economic opportunity (Doc. H). In the end, all the Jacksonian’s claims as guardians of the Constitution, political democracy, individual liberties, and equal economic opportunity were put to the test. Although Jackson failed to enforce Supreme Court decisions and left the U.S. without a centralized banking system, Jackson united the Democratic Party increased the power of the common white man, proving anyone with right ambition could hold office.