Jacksonian Democracy

Roughly between the years 1820 and 1836, new issues and ideas were introduced to the American society. The “Era of Good Feelings” was over and democratic ideals began to flow through the minds of Americans. The nationalistic illusion had faded when issues over slavery and economic distress struck the country. In addition, the United States expansion westward led to financial difficulties as well as sectionalism. The strong sectionalism in the country caused a political uproar and the formation of the two-party political system. One of the parties was the Jacksonian Democrats who had a tough opponent known as the Whigs. Jacksonian Democrats, a new energetic party led by President Andrew Jackson, believed strongly in trying to bolster their democratic ideals. Although the Democrats did not protect individual liberties, they were the guardians of political democracy, economic opportunity, and the U.S. Constitution.
Foremost, the Jacksonian Democrats were not successful in protecting individual liberties. While the rights of free men were protected, there were still many other social groups in society. For example, women had no voting rights and were practically excluded from any type of government. There were small women’s rights movements, but they never amounted to any substantial change. In addition, the issue over slavery was never properly addressed. Slaves were given no individual liberties, and only counted as 3/5th of a person under the Constitution. In the Acts and Resolutions of South Carolina, it made it illegal to distribute any newspaper, pamphlet, or anything relating to the abolition movement. This was just the beginning of a battle to come showing the strive for slavery in the south, and the objection of it in the north. Most importantly, Native Americans were stripped of their rights and lands. There was five main tribes that lived east of the Mississippi. The Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles. They all tried adapting to the