The Growth of Politics

1
The Growth of Politics

• The Growth of Political Participation
• Mass Politics
• Jacksonian Democracy?

2
The Growth of Political Participation

• Americans begin to have organized public meetings
  to discuss their government.
• Newspapers provided news from various parts of
  the nation. Stories address local to national
  issues.
• Entertainment shows are widely attended by
  politicians which allows them to talk to the
  public.

3
The Growth of Political Participation

• New Western states constitutions do not have
  property requirements for voting or holding
  office
• Western local government offices require
  elections as opposed to appointments
• This causes office holders to appeal more to the
  people and openly speak to their constituents

4
The Rise of Jackson

• People identified with Jacksons self-made man
  image
• Those that supported Jackson were men with little
  money but big dreams
• The Age of Jackson is a period when political
  supporters are rewarded with government jobs this
  the spoils system

5
The Rise of Jackson

• He was not really a champion for the common man
  in fact he was a slave owner with a large
  plantation
• He may have acted like a frontiersman but he was
  more like a refined Southern gentleman.
• He was paternalist and a man of opportunity

6
Mass Politics and Campaigns

• Mudslinging is the act of using rumors or half
  truths to discredit ones political candidate
• The use of parades, political rallies and name
  recognition are used to appeal to the everyone.
• Drinks and food are served at the polls. Fights
  break out at polling stations.

7
The Nasty Things You Say?!

• Adams is accused of being a pimp because. he
  tired to procure a American girl for the tsar of
  Russia.(not true)
• Adams has made the White House into a gambling
  den.(not true)

• Jackson is living in sin with a married woman.
  (sorta true)
• Jackson had six soldiers executed. (yeah, thats
  true)

8
The County Election by Caleb Bingham
9
Jackson and Democracy

• The Democratic Party is born through Jackson and
  Martin Van Buren.
• Called the Little Magician because he
  introduces mudslinging and patronage
• The party is focused on the belief of offering
  opportunity to all white males and rewarding
  party loyalty.

10
Extending the Right to Vote

• After the revolution it was believed that those
  who owned property,wealth and were educated
  should govern because they were not dependent on
  anyone
• The differences of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas
  Jefferson exposed that the nation indeed had many
  interests
• This sparked the desire to expand suffrage (right
  to vote) to all males. Egalitarianism is the
  belief in equality for all men

11
Mob Rule at the White House
12
The Whig Party

• The party forms out of dislike towards Jackson's
  policies.
• Whigs believe that Jackson has overstepped his
  position as president
• It is made up middle-class, Protestants, business
  men who strongly supported national improvements

13
What about me?

• Women, Blacks and Native Americans are not given
  the right to vote
• Hispanics are considered less than equals
• Jacksonian Democracy was a celebration of
  egalitarian ideals for white males only!