Jacksonian DemocracyDuring the period of Jackson's presidency and several years after his presidency, the power which had once been centralized in rich southern planters and northern merchants now shifted down to the lower and middle class white males. The visual gap in appearance between the two extremes was also becoming less visible. These ideas of equality, however, were not spread universally among all people's residing in United States. The oppression of black slaves, Indians, and sometimes other whites such as immigrants still existed despite the grow ...view middle of the document...
Also, voting caucuses were being replaced by nomination conventions. Thus further destroying the unequal distribution of political power.Despite all of these movements toward universal male suffrage, was still only toward white males. Indians as well as blacks still found themselves in the same situation as they had been before. In fact, the Indians were slowly being pushed out of their land by key pieces of legislation and rulings in the court. Free black oppression was still very present in the North despite movements for abolition. Northerners were often more harsh and prejudice to the blacks than the Southern planters. Jackson did not press for abolition, and in fact he refused to enact a ruling by the courts in favor of the Indians.Democrats tried to promote political democracy by stretching out a seemingly friendly hand to voters, yet once again denying the rights of blacks and Indians. Jacksonian Democrats appealed to the 'common man'. But the common man was a white male.Throughout the age of Jackson he did successfully promote political democracy, equal opportunity, and personal liberty, however, he only appealed to what he thought was the 'common man'. This 'common man' was a white male, and thus all of his accomplishments excluded and sometimes harmed everyone but white people.
