Political and Economic Changes After the War of 1812

        Andrew Jackson looked on toward a new democracy after his victory at New Orleans. The changes in this time period, after the war of 1812, would send America into a troubled future. The Post war political and economic changes would prove to be another stepping stone in America's evolving democracy.

        The political changes after the War of 1812 would redefine America's newly founded Democracy and contribute to a greater national government. Andrew Jackson gained America's respect after his victory at New Orleans and was later elected President in 1829. Jackson and his cabinet invested power into an powerful Executive Branch. The Jackson democrats tended to exaggerate the puissance of the lower class poor while decreasing the influence of the rich and potent and aristocracy. Andrew Jackson abolished restrictions on voting and increased active participation in the government by the lower and middle classes. Jackson also made the government more directly responsible to the people without the use of federally funded improvements. After the war of 1812, the federal government not only grew domestically but also internationally. The Monroe Doctrine shifted America's foreign policy. The Monroe Doctrine stated that European nations may not interfere or influence nations or colonies in the Western Hemisphere. Although at the time America lacked the military capacity to enforce this Doctrine, this policy was a major shift away from George Washington's policy of neutrality. The U.S. continued its policy of non involvement in European wars, but Europe now was expected to stay away from the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. continued to enforce this Doctrine to this day, with perhaps the most famous example being President Kennedy's Cuban Blockade. After the War of 1812, America's nationalism and unification began to fade in the face of sectionalism. The North and the South soon began to dispute over controversial...