The Jacksonian Period

The Jacksonian Period had been celebrated as the era of the "common man." To what extent did the period live up to its characterization? Consider two of the following: economic development, politics, reform movements

Back in the days of Federalist demonination, democracy was not respected, but by the 1820s, the the tables had turned. Democracy was widely appealing during the Jacksonian Period, now that the politicians had to bend to appease to the masses. Respectable political leaders were the "common man," those who worked their way up from the bottom to the top. A reform in politics, the "new democracy" pledged that the governing would be done directly by the people, and now that all adult white males had the vote, regardless of property qualifications, more of the masses were concerned in politics. Economic development also played a crucial role in the era of the "common man;" the steady rise of the economy led to a climbing number of people who were knowledgeable in how banks, tariffs, and internal improvements played in their lives. In addition, the panic of 1819 and the Missouri Compromise awakened burning resentment in the masses. The panic, said to have been caused by the overspeculation in the West, angered the people in such a way that caused them to care more about American politics. During the panic, when the banks called in its debts, farmers unable to pay debts lost their farms while the bankers got to keep their property because they suspended their payments. This practice of favoritism caused an outcry of protest and, in hopes to eliminate this, an increase in the interest of American politics. The Missouri Compromise also awakened many Americans. The compromise aroused Southern awareness to how the North could try to crush their slavery.