Jacksonian Period

During the Jacksonian period of 1824-1840, the American population began to demand more democratic rights. These rights helped to secure the period’s characterization as the period of the “common man”. At this time, the Panic of 1819 had occurred. As a result of this panic, the American population began to fight for new economic regulations – the North demanded tariff increase while the south demanded a free economy. This conflict along with the Missouri Compromise had caused the democracy of the nation to strengthen, and essentially allow for a period of the “common man”. Politically, the nation progressed into a more democratic government that supported the ideas of all people. In the 1824 election, only one out of four eligible people voted. Then in 1828, the number of voters increased to two out of four eligible people. This caused government officials to be chosen directly by the people. Also, candidates now had to become more appealing to the people since their vote actually mattered, thus increasing the commonality of the period. Reform movements that made this period more reflective of the common man included John Calhoun’s The South Carolina Exposition. This document showed that the Southerners disliked tariffs and that it was essential for government to respect the southern states as much as the northern ones. Jackson’s Revolution of 1828 was another example of this. Jackson had won election over Adams, showing that population sympathized with the honest person that did not cheat. In conclusion, this period should be considered a period of the “common man”.