Welcome to the Era of the "Common Man"!

In this chapter, we are looking at a massive shift in how the United States worked. Imagine a country where only the wealthy, land-owning "elite" could vote. Now, imagine that door swinging wide open for millions of regular people. This era, roughly from \(1824\) to \(1848\), is defined by expanding democracy, the rise of Andrew Jackson, and a fierce "tug-of-war" over how much power the federal government should actually have. Don't worry if it feels like a lot of political drama—it is! Think of it as the birth of modern American politics.

1. Expanding Democracy: Power to the People

During the early \(1800\)s, the rules about who could vote began to change. Previously, most states required you to own property or pay specific taxes to vote. During this period, these "property requirements" were largely dropped.

Universal White Male Suffrage

The biggest change was the move toward universal white male suffrage. This meant that almost all white men, regardless of how much money or land they had, could now vote and hold office.
Note: While this was a "democracy" for white men, it still excluded women, American Indians, and most African Americans.

Why did this happen?

New states in the West (like Ohio and Illinois) didn't have a long history of wealthy elites, so they allowed more people to vote. To keep people from moving away, older states in the East had to change their laws too! This led to a new style of politics where candidates had to appeal to the "common man" rather than just the rich.

Quick Review: Democracy expanded because property requirements were removed, allowing more white men to participate in the political process than ever before.

2. The Rise of the Second Party System

As more people started voting, political parties had to get organized. This led to the Second Party System, which consisted of two main groups: the Democrats and the Whigs. These two parties disagreed on almost everything regarding the role of the government.

The Democrats (Led by Andrew Jackson)

  • Supporters: Often the "common man," including farmers, urban laborers, and people in the South and West.
  • Core Beliefs: They were suspicious of a strong central government. They favored states' rights and wanted to limit the power of the federal government in the economy.
  • Key Goal: They wanted to protect the "individual" from the "monopolies" of the wealthy.

The Whigs (Led by Henry Clay)

  • Supporters: Often businessmen, bankers, and large plantation owners who wanted a more organized economy.
  • Core Beliefs: They believed the federal government should be active in helping the country grow. They supported the American System (internal improvements like roads and canals).
  • Key Goal: They wanted to use the power of the government to promote economic development.

Mnemonic Device:
Whigs want Works (Internal Improvements) and Wealth (Banking).
Democrats Downplay the federal government's power.

3. Andrew Jackson and Federal Power

Andrew Jackson was a transformational president. His supporters saw him as a hero of the people, while his enemies called him "King Andrew I" because they felt he used too much power.

The Power of the Veto

Jackson used the presidential veto more than all previous presidents combined. He used it to shut down laws he didn't like, most famously by vetoing the re-charter of the Bank of the United States. Jackson believed the Bank was a tool for the rich that hurt the common farmer.

Federal Power vs. State Power

One of the biggest "tug-of-war" moments was over federal power. Even though Jackson generally liked states' rights, he was a firm believer that the Union must be preserved.

When some states tried to ignore (nullify) federal laws they didn't like—specifically high tariffs—Jackson insisted that federal law was supreme. This sparked a massive debate over whether a state had the right to "nullify" a law passed by Congress.

Jackson and the Supreme Court

Jackson didn't always get along with the Supreme Court. At times, the Court made rulings that limited state power or protected certain groups, and Jackson famously ignored the Court's authority if it conflicted with his goals. This created a lot of tension between the Executive (President) and Judicial (Courts) branches.

Did you know? Jackson was the first president to be born in a log cabin. This "humble beginnings" story was a huge part of why the "common man" loved him so much!

4. Key Takeaways and Summary

To succeed on the AP Exam regarding this topic, remember these three main points:

  1. Expanding Democracy: Property requirements for voting vanished, leading to Universal White Male Suffrage. Politics became a mass-participation event.
  2. New Political Parties: The Democrats (Jackson) and Whigs (Clay) formed. They fought over the American System, the National Bank, and the role of the federal government.
  3. The Power of the President: Jackson greatly increased the power of the presidency through the use of the veto and by challenging both the Supreme Court and state governments when they disagreed with him.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
  • Don't assume everyone could vote: Even though we call it "Expanding Democracy," it was still restricted to white men.
  • Don't mix up the parties: Remember that Democrats in this era wanted less federal government involvement in the economy, while Whigs wanted more.
  • Don't forget the context: This all happened during the Market Revolution (see Topic \(4.5\) and \(4.6\)), which was changing how people worked and traveled, making these political debates even more intense.

Looking for what happens next? Check out the notes on "The Second Great Awakening" and "An Age of Reform" to see how these political changes led to social changes!