Evolution from Jefferson to Jackson

PoliticalQUERY: JEFFERSONIAN

DEMOCRACYJACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY

To what extent was universal white

manhood suffrage achieved?

Limited property requirements, but still believed a property requirement was a test of character that a man of initiative should be able to meet

Property requirements for voting had been erased.

Which citizens were considered eligible for

(civil service) office holding?

Educated elite should rule, although he proposed education for all to prepare poorer individuals for public office

Believed all men were qualified to hold office. Political positions should be rotated. “Rotation in office” “Spoils System” “Patronage”

How were candidates for president chosen?

Candidates were chosen by caucuses of political leaders

Nominating conventions were introduced. (Note: First by the Anti-Masons)

EconomicQUESTIONS JEFFERSONIAN

DEMOCARCYJACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY

In what way did Jackson expand the concept of the

“chosen class”?

Saw the yeoman farmer as the “chosen class”

Included in that group the planters, farmers, laborers, and mechanics

How did each man view industrialization?

Originally feared the consequences of industrialization

Jackson accepted industry as essential to the American economy.

How did the Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge

decision affect the access to corporate charters

prevalent in Jefferson’s time?

Corporate charters were granted to favorites of state legislators and often implied monopoly rights to a business.

Roger Taney, Jackson’s appointee as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ruled in the Charles River Bridge decision that corporate charters should be available to all who chose to risk starting a business.

What was each man’s attitude toward the Bank of

the United States?

Different reasons both disapproved of the Bank

Disagreed with a loose interpretation of the elastic clause

Saw it as a monopoly of the rich. Puts federal $ in state Banks called Pet Banks.

SocialQUESTIONS JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCARCY JACKSONIAN DEMOCRACY

What was each man’s attitude toward slavery?

Owned slaves, saw slavery as evil and would be eradicate over time

Owned slaves but seemed little interested in abolition

What was each man’s attitude toward equality for women and

Native Americans?

Neither saw them as equal Supported Indian Removal Act & Trail of Tears.

How did each man view education?

As an educated man himself, believed education was necessary for office-holding and for preparing citizens for participation in a democracy

Had little education and believed education was relatively unimportant

How did each hope to remove obstacles to upward social

mobility?

Believed that education and ambition were keys to success; however, he was never able to build support for his proposed system of public education

Opened opportunities for individuals to get corporate charters and thus rise on both the economic and social ladders.