Scarlet Letter

Jacksonian Democracy

During the 1820s and 1830s, the United States presidency was under the charge of the Jackson administration. In American history, Jacksonian Democrats have been viewed as protectors of the Constitution of the United States, its individual liberty, political democracy, and equality of economic opportunity. The supporters of Andrew Jackson have been maintaining the country's values such as individual freedoms, but Jacksonian Democrats were cruel and oppressive in a situation such as the Trail of Tears.

Individual liberty is expressed by the commoners and echoed in the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Jackson grew up in the South to an average family and he resented the elite classes often. Jackson was in favor of the common, middle class, thus having his presidential era named "the era of the common man." He wanted to extend opportunities to the rising classes in the South and West. Foreigners noticed that economic opportunity was made available for the common man. People debated about politics and people were very "independent." In the Nullification Crisis, the Southerners were enraged at the recent tariffs on their products because they believed they had no reason to pay the tax when it was only protecting the Northern industry and not agricultural South. Andrew Jackson took a stand and addressed the nation by expressing his desire for preservation of the union and to give everyone an equal chance. He also found it inappropriate that the wealthy would corrupt the government for their self-interests. Jackson demonstrates his view in equal economic opportunity for all Americans. After Chief Justice John Marshall died, President Jackson appointed Judge Robert Taney to replace him. In Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge, two companies from Massachusetts dispute over the right to build a bridge across the Charles River. Chief Justice Taney ruled that the state had the right to amend a contract to benefit the wellbeing of a community. (Document H) Jackson's key to ideal