Jacksonian Democracy
What is Jacksonian Democracy?
This term describes the period of expanding voting rights for white men in the 1820s and 1830s.
What is the Democratic Party?
Supporters of Andrew Jackson formed this political party.
Who were Jackson’s supporters / the common people?
This group of ordinary people rushed into the White House and caused chaos during Jackson’s inauguration.
What is the spoils system?
This was the system Jackson used to reward loyal supporters with government jobs.
What is hot-tempered, crude, or ill-equipped?
Supporters of Adams criticized Jackson by calling him this—suggesting he was unfit for office.
What is property ownership?
: Many states removed this requirement, allowing more white men to vote.
Who is Andrew Jackson?
John Quincy Adams faced this opponent again in the 1828 election.
What is wild and chaotic?
Margaret Bayard Smith described the inauguration scene as this—full of pushing, scrambling, and broken
What was the Kitchen Cabinet?
Jackson relied on this informal group of advisors who met in the White House kitchen.
What is a wealthy Harvard-educated elite?
Jackson’s supporters said John Quincy Adams was out of touch because he was this kind of person.
What are nominating conventions?
These meetings, where party members chose their candidates, replaced the old caucus system.
Who is John C. Calhoun?
Jackson chose this man as his vice presidential running mate.
What is several thousand people?
jackson’s inauguration was unusual because this many average citizens came to celebrate (several thousand).
Who was Martin Van Buren?
This man, highlighted in the text, was Jackson’s Secretary of State and one of his strongest allies.
What are popular votes?
Jackson won the 1828 election by a large number of these—more than Adams.
Who are ordinary Americans / the common people?
This group felt left behind by the growing political power of wealthy Americans.
What is being born poor / a humble background?
Jackson’s campaign emphasized that he came from this type of background.
Who were ordinary citizens / the common people?
Margaret Bayard Smith said Jackson’s inauguration was “the people’s day,” meaning this group finally felt they had political power.
What is corruption or unfair political favoritism?
Critics argued that the spoils system might lead to this major problem in government.
What is formal education and political experience?
Adams supporters said Jackson was unqualified because he lacked this—something Adams had plenty of.
What is the belief that political power should belong to the common people?
The idea that political power belongs to the “common people” increased during this era.
Who were the National Republicans?
Many Adams supporters called themselves this party name.
What is the expansion of democracy / increased power of the common man?
The chaotic inauguration symbolized this major political shift happening during Jackson’s rise.
What is becoming too powerful or unresponsive to the people?
Jackson believed that rotating people out of government jobs would prevent this issue that affected long-term officeholders.
What is a lump of ice?
Jackson supporters mocked John Quincy Adams by claiming he was as “cold as” this.