Changes in a Young Nation
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Transcript of Changes in a Young Nation
CHANGES IN A YOUNG NATION
Did changes in the young nation open the door t opportunity for all Americans?
Political Changes
Political changes in an emerging democracy
From 1790-1830—expansion of democracy in U.S. Andrew Jackson
represented this change—poor southerner prosperous planter judge, Senator, military hero POTUS
Democracy for common man—but not woman Jackson became POTUS in 1828
Owed victory to expansion of suffrage (voting rights)
States changed voting laws—no longer needed to own property
Not all Americans given right to vote Women, Native Americans, and slaves could not vote Few freed blacks could vote
Other democratic changes Move from voice-vote to secret paper ballots National conventions Political parties involved people in campaigns
Jackson loses, then wins 1st ran for POTUS in 1824
4 candidates—all Democratic Republicans Jackson wins popular vote, but not enough
electoral votes H. of R. decided chose John Quincy Adams
Jackson ran again in 1828 Knew there would be lots of new voters
“common people” Formed new political party Democrat
Represent ordinary farmers & workers instead of wealthy & privileged
Decentralized gov’t & states’ rights
Jackson loses, then wins Jackson’s opponent, John Q. Adams, also started new
party National Republican Party
Represented business, shipping & banking interests
Favored strong central gov’t Southerners feared high taxes & interference
with slavery Both parties tried to avoid sectional issues Mudslinging Jackson wins rewards his supporters with gov’t
jobs spoils system “To the victor belong the spoils…” Defended rotation in office as reform…gov’t jobs
open to all, not just wealthy elite
Nullification Key issue in nation: balance between Fed. &
State power 1st came up in 1798 w/ Alien & Sedition Acts—
Jefferson & Madison believed laws unconstitutional States should nullify laws that violate Constitution
(Nullification) This idea important later on in battler over states’ rights
S.C. tried to nullify 2 fed. Tariffs (tariff a tax on imports/exports) Leaders in SC threatened to secede from Union if laws
enforced Jackson stood his ground—prepared to use force to
keep SC New lower tariff passed in Congress