Question: Analyze the extent to which TWO of the following influenced the development of Democracy between 1820 and 1840.</p>
Jacksonian Economic Policy
Changes in Electoral Policy
Second Great Awakening
Westward Movement</p>
Essay:</p>
As a young nation, the 1820’s and the 1840’s had a strong influence on the development of Democracy. The power of the Presidency grew to an unprecedented level while the issue of slavery brought the issue of popular sovereignty to the table.</p>
President Jackson was considered to be the Champion of the Common Man. He implemented the Tariff of Abominations in order to protect American Businesses. Much of the South was hurt by this and tried to fight against it. This led to the nullification crisis, which was proposed by States’ Rights activist Henry Clay, which allowed States to not follow certain laws. South Carolina even went as far as threatening to secede. Jackson responded to these threats by mobilizing the army to these areas. Having their bluff being called, South Carolina backed down and Jackson regained control of the country. Other instances of Jackson’s steel fist can be see when he forced the relocation of Native Americans west along the Trail of Tears. The Indians won their suit in the Supreme Court but Jackson made his famous statement " John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Jackson still followed through with moving the Natives. This is where he received the name “King Andrew”. Jackson’ economic policies and western land policies influenced Democracy by increasing the power of the Presidency and exploiting flaws in the checks and balances system.</p>
As Americans began to colonize western land, the ugly head of slavery reared its head once again and impacted Democracy. During this time period there was a balance of free states vs. slave states in the Senate. In order to maintain this balance, the Missouri compromise was adopted which stated that for every free state admitted a slave state had to also be admitted. This policy later became questioned by the Kansas-Nebraska Act which gave the people the power to decide whether to be admitted as a slave or free state. This policy led to much bloodshed in the two states which questioned the stability of popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty did survive because Federal Troops were sent into the region in order to maintain order. Once again the Government implemented force to uphold the Principles of Democracy. Democracy also grew by allowing the people to have a greater say in issues that affected them. The Government proved in the issues of westward movement that it would play a key role in the development of Democracy.</p>
The principle of Democracy has been challenged many times in U.S. History but many things have influenced its’ survival and have made it stronger. The power of the people and the Government have both upheld and challenged Democracy. Both exist in order to keep the other in check. With this relationship during 1820-1840, Democracy would not have developed and would have ceased to exist.</p>
If you could just give it a score of 1-9 that would be great!</p>
To start off with, there’s alot of stuff that’s not correct. Henry Clay was not the states’ rights activist, that was John C. Calhoun of South Carolina (author of South Carolina Exposition). The Trail of Tears has nothing to do with the supreme court. It coincided with the Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the removal of indians east of the Mississippi River. The trail referred to the terrible journey they endured at gunpoint. There was no case; the case you mentioned is Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia, which stated the tribe had the rights to the lands they posessed in that area. Jackson got his nickname “King Andrew” from critics because he influenced the power of the presidency.</p>
Even with those corrections, I fail to see how that promoted democracy. There was no mention of his universal male sufferage, aka a main point of his presidential legacy. Also, in the last system you said he exploited “flaws in the checks and balances system.” Not only did you mention nothing of this, it really has no basis.</p>
Now, you mentioned the Kansas-Nebraska Act. That act was in 1854, OUTSIDE the prompt, whose date is strictly enforced (you would recieve 0 credit for any of that info if this was the real AP.) So, I disreguarded that information and found that your thesis is basically invalid, since popular sovereignty was a later period. There is not alot else in the paragraph. I don’t see how the Missouri Compromise was democratic? At the end you said “government proved in the issues of westward movement that it would play a key role in the development of Democracy.” How? Through what? Also, there was nothing mentioned of manifest destiny, a huge concept of the time period.</p>
Not to completely destroy you, but your last paragraph is also confusing. How did democracy get challenged? How did it get upheld? Why would it have not existed? You really didn’t explore this in your essay.</p>
All in all, in the first paragraph, you focused on presidental power and states’ rights. Most of your second paragraph argument was irrelevent. I think you were confused on the prompt.</p>
I’d give this a 3 honestly.</p>
EDIT: Wow I just wrote this long response and then I realized it was from last year. Sigh.</p>
Okay so to start off I think you misunderstood the question. You have to know what the AP graders want to hear - anything about the Jacksonian period usually has to do with how democracy in regards to the common man’s participation was expanded. You should probably know this even before you read the four topics. Then, looking at the topics, ask, “What do I know about this that reflects the expansion of democracy during this period?” (Note: stay within the period guidelines!)
Make quick mental notes:
Jacksonian Economic Policy - Bank veto and the killing of the Second National Bank; laissez-faire economics; opposition to federal spending and national debt
Changes in Electoral Policy - universal white male suffrage; party nominating conventions instead of selection by leaders; more elected offices
Second Great Awakening - preachers promised salvation was possible for all; most prevalent in rural and poorer areas; drove other reform movements that caused people to want a more active role in society
Westward Movement - increased individualism; promoted the idea of equal opportunity </p>
Then, choose the two that are strongest and have the most to do with each other. I would probably stick to the first two because they aren’t as abstract to try and describe seeing as you don’t have that much time to think.</p>
The reason why I’m telling you this is because the previous poster already covered a lot of the issues with your essay. Not to be mean, but you were kind of all over the place. I don’t think sectional disputes or slavery were choices withing the scope of the prompt (which seemed to be what your third paragraph was focused on). </p>
By the way ivagotdapowers, Cherokee Nation v. Georgia didn’t rule in favor of the Cherokee. It said that the Cherokee could not count as a foreign nation, which defeated the Cherokees’ legal argument. You’re probably thinking of Worcester v. Georgia. (Just a minor thing…I’m sure it doesn’t have that high stakes in the test)</p>
I would probably give you a 3 or 4.</p>