Comparison of jeffersonian and jacksonian democracy
1. Political
To what extent was universal white manhood suffrage achieved?
Jefferson - Believed property requirement was a test of character that man of initiative should be able to meet
Jackson - Property requirements for voting had been eliminated
Which citizens were considered eligible for office holding?
Jefferson - Believed the educated elite should rule, although he proposed education for all to prepare poorer individuals for public office
Jackson - Believed all men were qualified to hold office and that political positions should be rotated
How were candidates for president chosen?
Jefferson - Candidates were chosen by caucuses of political leaders
Jackson - Nominating conventions were introduced during Jackson’s time
2. Economic
Jackson concepts of the “chosen class”?
Jefferson - Yeoman farmer as the “chosen class”
Jackson - included planters, farmers, laborers, and mechanics in “chosen class”
Industrialization?
Jefferson - Originally feared the consequences of industrialization
Jackson - Accepted industry as essential to American economy
How did the Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge decision affect the access to corporate charters prevalent in Jefferson’s time?
Jefferson - In J’s time corporate charters were granted to favorites of state legislators & often implied monopoly rights to a business
Jackson - Roger Taney, Jackson’s appointee as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ruled in Charles River Bridge decision that corporate charters should be available to all who chose to risk starting a business
Attitude toward the Banks?
Jefferson - Both disapproved, originally at least, disagreed with a loose interpretation of the elastic clause
Jackson - saw Bank as a monopoly of the rich
3. Social
Attitude toward slavery?
Jefferson - Owned slaves, saw slavery as an evil that time would eradicate
Jackson - Owned slaves, but seemed little interested in abolition
Attitude toward equality for women & American Indians
Jefferson - Neither man saw women or American Indians as equals
Jackson - Had a particularly negative attitude toward Native Americans
Education?
Jefferson - An educated man himself, believed education was necessary for office-holding and for preparing citizens for participation in a democracy
Jackson - Had little education & believed education was relatively unimportant
Obstacles to Upward Social Mobility?
Jefferson - Education & ambition were keys to success; however, he was never able to build support for his proposed system of public education
Jackson - Ended the Bank & with it, control over credit, CRB decision opened opportunities for individuals to get corporate charters & thus rise on both economic and social ladders. Jackson, a self-made man, believed his economic progress had accounted for his own upward social mobility & others could follow his example
4. Religious
Separation of Church from Politics?
Jefferson - Most state constitutions had eliminated established churches after the Revolution;
Jackson - Massachusetts, the last state to maintain an established church, ended the practice in 1834