The United States’ political, military, and socio-economic landscape was shaped by revolutionary changes during the early nineteenth century. The period of Thomas Jefferson addressed the issue of North African Barbary coast piracy and British impressment resulting in the Embargo Act of 1807 (Gunn 22). Furthermore, the Supreme Court determined the importance of the judiciary in interpreting the Constitution and affirmed that federal statutes took precedence over state legislation. Jefferson also allowed the Louisiana Purchase, following which the United States’ government strived to control North America through diplomatic efforts and exploration. Moreover, this era defined the United States’ shift to participatory democracy achieved through the expansion of suffrage, allowing all white men to vote instead of landowners only.
Economically, entrepreneurs created a market revolution in both production and commerce. As the manufacturing of goods became more predictable and organized, the market relationships between consumers and producers prevailed. The textile machinery, the telegraph, and agricultural creations increased the efficiency of production methods. Moreover, judicial order and legislation supported the infrastructural development of roads, railroads, and buildings, which enlarged the markets, especially in the North and Midwest. Likewise, the expanding Southern cotton production and the related banking and shipping industries steered national and global ties. Culturally, a lot of international immigrants settled in the industrializing northern states. Prosperity and living standards increased for some people; an expansive middle class emerged with a handful of wealthy elite (Gunn 30). Family and gender roles focused on defining new domestic ideals, emphasizing the need to separate public and private aspects. As such, the industrial revolution and the infrastructural development changed the market in commerce and production.
Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, is remembered for his unique style of leadership. Unlike his six predecessors, Jackson distinguished himself not by appointing a legislative program but by undermining one. During his eight years in office, Congress only ratified one primary legislation, the Indian Removal Act, which affected the Native American population. By forging direct connections with the voters, the president strengthened his position against Congress. He cast himself as the people’s tribune, reversing the norm of executive reverence to legislative domination. Additionally, he attained national recognition for his impeccable action in the War of 1812 (Nathans 60). Identifying with the average person, the era of Jackson is referred to as Jacksonian democracy. It defined the age of a political shift towards better democracy for the proletariat, for which Jackson championed (Nichter 7). His Democratic Party amassed followers, rivaling Clay’s anti-Jacksonian factions, which later arose as the Whigs. Through his special accomplishments, including the passing of the Indian Removal Act, the uncharacteristic antagonism of Congress, and the introduction of Jacksonian democracy, Andrew Jackson created a rare presidential legacy.
The United States elections in 1924 marked the Monroe government’s end and the start of a new era. Uniquely, four candidates were running for the presidency: John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, and William Crawford. Whereas these candidates differed ideologically, they were all running as Democratic-Republicans. Most people regarded President Madison’s Secretary of Treasury, William Crawford, as a suitable replacement. Quincy Adams was highly famous in the Northern states besides being the son of a former president (Nichter 9). The western states preferred Clay because he championed the American System. The 1924 USA elections were unique because of the high number of candidates and the fact that all of them were Democratic-Republicans.
On the contrary, Jackson represented the Southern states where he was popular for his heroism against the British in the War of 1812. All the candidates earned a double-digit percentage of both popular and electoral votes and failed to reach the constitutional majority, making the election a draw. Resorting to the 12th Amendment, the House of Representatives chose Adams. The Jacksonians, thus, accused the Adams administration of a ‘corrupt bargain’ for their coalition with Clay (Nichter 10). There is little resemblance to Biden-Trump wars currently ongoing since the former achieved the constitutional threshold for both electoral and popular vote.
Works Cited
Gunn, Ray. The Decline of Authority: Public Economic Policy and Political Development in New York State, 1800-1860. Cornell UP, 2019.
Nathans, Sydney. Daniel Webster and Jacksonian Democracy. John Hopkins UP, 2019.
Nichter, Caren. Andrew Jackson and the Rise of the Democratic Party. The U of Tennessee P, 2018.