Did Everyone Benefit from Jacksonian Democracy?

By: Wynter Guilbault

The planter, the farmer, the mechanic, and the laborer... form the great body of the
people of the United States, they are the bone and sinew of the country men who love liberty and
desire nothing but equal rights and equal laws, says Andrew Jackson, the supposed loyal and
good willed president of America. It was under our seventh president that Jacksonian Democracy
was created. It became one of the most memorable early eras that occurred in the history of the
United States. Jackson was a war hero, who was in touch with modern day civilians. As
president, he worked hard to improve Democracy in the US, but his efforts did little to affect
anyone but the common white man.
While all white men soon became aloud to vote throughout the country, more than a
couple groups of people were excluded. In an article titled The Expansion of the Vote: A White
Mans Democracy, it is stated For example, New Jersey revised its state constitution to abolish
property requirements in 1807, but at the same time prevented all women from voting (even
wealthy ones who had been allowed to vote there since 1776) as well as all free blacks. Even
though voting was expanded to all white men in the Jacksonian Democracy, it still left out
women and free African Americans. Likewise, in the same article, it articulates At the same
time that state legislatures opened suffrage (that is, the right to vote) to all white men, they
simultaneously closed the door firmly to white women and free African Americans. Only few
wealthy, free African Americans were permitted to vote out of the eighteen thousand that lived.
Although everyday citizens believed Jackson had his best intentions at heart, Native
Americans were shown the other side of the Jacksonian Democracy. The Trail of Tears- The
Indian Removals declares, But, it was the Native Americans who suffered most from Andrew
Jacksons vision of America. When Georgia discovered gold under Cherokee Land, they
resisted against the case of Worcester v. Georgia, which proclaimed states dont have any
authority against Cherokee Indians, and Andrew Jackson did nothing to enforce the law. The
peoples beloved president turned against his oath, yet no one stood strongly in opposition. In
fact, The Trail of Tears- the Cherokees merciless eight hundred mile forced march to Indian
Territory- became the most sorrowful legacy of the Jacksonian Era.
Others in disagreement may claim that the Jacksonian Democracy open new doors for the
economy. However, when one door was opened for all white men, one was closed off for African
Americans, women, and Native Americans. Others also may conclude that it increased the
suffrage rights from the wealthy landowners. However, when those rights were standing, even a
few wealthy women and free African Americans could vote.
Jacksonian Democracy may have expanded white man suffrage, but Native Americans, free
African Americans, and women were denied the same rights, therefore keeping Jacksonian
Democracy a desired freedom that many didnt have. Andrew Jacksons criticizers stated he was
hot-tempered, crude, and ill-equipped to be president of the United States.With the Trail of Tears,
removal of six Indian Tribes, and the lack of expansion to all groups of people residing in the
United States, it seems as if those criticizers were correct.