Question

Evaluate the extent to which Jacksonians should be considered the guardians of the US Constitution, political democracy, personal liberties and equal economic opportunity.

Answer 1

Answer:

Jackson's Democrats believed that any American was capable of holding public office. Jackson also said that if a man were to hold office for an extended period of time, he would be able to "tolerate behaviors against which an inexperienced man would rebel." Along with the rotation, Jackson's Democrats reinstated the loot system. Jackson fired any previous incumbent who was not a loyal Democrat. Then he would name a Democrat for that position. The loot system and rotation were advances towards greater political democracy, because they showed that one man is as good as the other. In addition to creating a more democratic country, Jackson also sought to establish equal economic opportunity for the people of America. The best example of this is the veto of the statutes of the Bank of the United States. The bank was a great monopoly. It was led by aristocrats, most of whom were from England. Nicholas Biddle, who was the bank's president, often used bank funds to lend money to members of Congress, thus winning their support. In his veto message, Jackson wrote: "It is unfortunate that the rich and powerful often bend government actions to their selfish purposes." This was true, since the bank was used to satisfy the interests of the rich and not of ordinary men, such as small farmers and urban workers.

Explanation:

Jackson's Democrats saw themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equal economic opportunity.