How did the election of Andrew Jackson as President mark the beginning of a new age in American political history?

Essay by y2fuHigh School, 12th gradeA+, November 2004

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In the following essay, based on my knowledge of history and historical data, I will prove that Andrew Jackson's election as President marked the beginning of a new age in American political history.

The election of Andrew Jackson as President in 1829 marked the beginning of an era known as Jacksonian Democracy or the Age of the Common Man. The changes in politics during Jackson's presidency provided various social and economic changes.

Actually, political change began several years before Jackson became president. In the Election of 1824, Jackson had the most popular and electoral votes, but did not win the election. Because the vote was split four ways, he did not have the majority of the electoral college and John Quincy Adam became president. Jackson supporters believed that voters were told to vote for Adams or Clay through secret political maneuvers. They accused them of making a "corrupt bargain."

Adams and Jackson both ran for president again in the Election of 1828, which was also known as a revolution.

Jackson and his followers had new campaign tactic, which was accusing Adams' wife of being born out of wedlock. Adams' accused Jackson's wife of adultery. This election attracted a lot of interest and had three times as many voters as the Election of 1824. Jackson won and became president in 1829.

During his presidency, Andrew Jackson gave all men the opportunity to hold government jobs. This is why this period is called the Age of the Common Man. Before Jackson became president, rich southern planters and northern merchants dominated the government. Now, under Jackson's rule, white males of the lower and middle classes began to vote in large numbers. There were new state suffrage laws, which enabled more citizens to vote, due to better education, changes in political parties, and an...