Andrew Jackson Anti-American Democracy Essay

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American Democracy arose like a rose amongst aristocratic thorns. It rebuffed the old traditions of the aristocracy by changing, drastically, who held governmental power. American democracy pioneered by the Jeffersonians underwent changes under the Jacksonian presidency. The Jeffersonians pushed for reforms and were against banks. The Jacksonians believed not only should the government have a small role in people's lives but that it should be dictated by the people. The Jacksonians were firm believers in the power of the people and the sovereignty of power that came from them, their leader Andrew Jackson however, was not very consistent in his professed federalist beliefs.

There seemed to be more to Jackson’s political life than meets
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He used the perks of his office to push his democratic principles. Due to his belief in state’s rights, Jefferson chafed at the thought of spending federal money for roads built in individual states. However he did sign bills that built interstate roads. In 1832, Jackson vetoed a bill to recharter that bank of the United States and he also removed federal deposits from its vaults. Jefferson and his followers believed that among the rights that states should have, should be the right to build roads w/o government involvement. They also were against banks and thought that the Bank of the United States, was “anti-American”. Jackson, with some exceptions, embodied the rule of the common man, which was one of the main reasons that he was elected. Andrew Jackson’s presidency may have been revolutionary at the time but now it comparable with the presidency of William “Bill” Clinton. Both men were quite popular presidents which allowed them to easily win reelection. Clinton and Jefferson both overcame scandals that threatened to end their careers. Both brought back into favor the Democratic party Jackson and his followers revived after the title of democrat became unpopular under the Jeffersonians. Clinton revived after 12 years of a republican white house. Finally, both men changed how Americans would think about the role of a US