Development of U.S. Democracy (1820-1840)

The National Bank was seen by Jackson as a major opponent. He thought that the Bank helped only the rich and was owned only by the wealthy, therefore giving them power over the poor. In order to reduce the Bank’s economic power, Jackson announced in October of 1833 that federal funds would no longer be held in the Bank of the United States. He ordered Roger Taney, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to withdraw all federal money from the bank. With that money, thirty-three “pet banks” were set up all over the country and the money was then deposited into them. This later presented a problem because these pet banks were using their own script for money. Spec

ulators would then buy federal land and pay with this special money form, which was basically useless. In repose to this, Jackson issued the Specie Circular, which stated that land could be bought only with money that is directly backed by gold and/or silver. As a result of this, many banks failed, cotton prices plummeted, many business entered bankruptcy, and there were many unemployed people. This then became known as the Panic of 1837.

In early the 1800’s, a man could be a respectable farmer or a hardworking businessman, but still would not be allowed to vote unless his state included him among the voters by law. The main qualification to vote was the ownership of land because it was believe that through this, the person would have an investment in good government and that in turn would create a solid citizen who has a sound judgment about the candidates. This began to anger many people and as it did, some states began to change their voting laws to include certain white males who did not own land. This eventually helped Jackson in his quest for election.

Andrew Jackson was President during what is most commonly known as the Age of the Common Man. Jackson was the first United States President to be elected who was a commoner. He came from a wealthy background, but he also had a very humble childhood and was seen by other people as easy to identify with. He felt that the government should be run by commoners, that the democracy should be based on a self-sufficient middle class with ideas that emerge from liberal education and free press.

All in all, the time period of 1820 – 1840 was a very definitive point in the development of democracy in the United States. Through the Jacksonian Economic Policy, which included key issues such as the War with the National Bank and t

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