Democracy in America

• The Indian Removal Act of 1830: Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law, which authorized the federal government to forcibly remove Native Americans from their lands in the Southeast. This act was a violation of Native American rights, but it also helped to open up new land for white settlement and expansion.
• The Bank War: Jackson vetoed the recharter of the Second Bank of the United States, which he saw as a threat to democracy and the power of the people. Jackson's victory over the bank was a major victory for democracy and helped to expand the power of the executive branch.

Analysis:

These four primary sources show that Andrew Jackson played a significant role in the expansion of democracy in the United States. He supported policies such as the expansion of suffrage, the rotation of office, and the spoils system, which made government more accessible to ordinary people. He also fought against the power of the elite, as exemplified by his opposition to the Second Bank of the United States.

However, it is important to note that Jacksonian Democracy was not simply the result of Jackson's actions alone. There were other factors at play, such as the rise of the working class and the expansion of the frontier. These factors created a demand for a more democratic government, and Jackson was able to tap into that demand.

In conclusion, Andrew Jackson was a major figure in the expansion of democracy in the United States. However, it is important to note that Jacksonian Democracy was also the result of other factors, such as the rise of the working class and the expansion of the frontier.

Additional Primary Sources:

• Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America (1835): Tocqueville was a French aristocrat who visited the United States in the early 1830s. He was impressed by the American experiment in democracy, and he wrote a two-volume book about his observations. In his book, Tocqueville credited Jackson with playing a key role in the expansion of democracy.
• Martin Van Buren, An Inquiry into the Origin and Course of Political Parties in the United States (1867): Van Buren was Jackson's vice president and secretary of state. He wrote a book about the history of political parties in the United States, in which he argued that Jacksonian Democracy was a new and distinct form of democracy.

These two additional primary sources provide further support for the argument that Andrew Jackson played a significant role in the expansion of democracy in the United States.

Primary Sources:

• Andrew Jackson's First Inaugural Address, 1829: In his inaugural address, Jackson declared that "the people themselves, and not their political servants, are the rightful masters of both the Federal Government and the State governments." He also called for the expansion of suffrage and the rotation of office, so that the government would be more representative of the people.
• The Spoils System: Jackson was a strong advocate for the spoils system, which rewarded political supporters with government jobs. This system helped to break down the power of the elite and make government more accessible to ordinary people.