4.7 Expanding Democracy

Between 1800 and 1848, American democracy expanded for many white men as states reduced property requirements and political parties mobilized more voters. At the same time, women, Native Americans, and most African Americans remained excluded from formal political power.

What to Know About Expanding Democracy

• Many states dropped property requirements for voting, and turnout rose as parties mobilized more white men. The right to vote shifted from depending on owning property to extending to every adult white man, which made politics more participatory.
• Jackson won the most votes in 1824, but corrupt bargain allegations damaged Adams' presidency and sped the formation of new parties.
• Adams favored federal economic development, but opposition in Congress and his refusal to use patronage limited his agenda.
• Jackson's 1828 victory followed a mass campaign that used rallies and parades to mobilize voters.
• The Second Party System brought more ordinary citizens into politics as party competition increased voter participation.
• Expanded political participation mainly benefited white men; women, Native Americans, and most African Americans remained excluded from formal political power.

The Democratization of American Politics

Before the 1820s, political participation was limited by property requirements and other restrictions. Several developments helped transform American democracy during this period:

These changes resulted in dramatic increases in voter participation:

• Voter turnout rose from about 25% of eligible voters in the 1824 election to over 80% by the 1840s
• Political engagement became a central part of American male identity
• Mass rallies, parades, and political spectacles emerged as campaign tools

The Election of 1824: A Turning Point

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The Election of 1824 marked a major transition in American politics and helped usher in this new democratic era:

• Candidates:
  • Andrew Jackson: War hero, considered a man of the people
  • John Quincy Adams: Son of former president, experienced statesman
  • William H. Crawford: Secretary of the Treasury
  • Henry Clay: Speaker of the House, "The Great Compromiser"
• Results:
  • Jackson won the most popular votes (41%) and electoral votes (99)
  • No candidate received an electoral majority
  • Election decided by House of Representatives
  • Adams elected president with Clay's support
• "Corrupt Bargain":
  • Clay appointed as Adams' Secretary of State
  • Jackson supporters claimed a corrupt deal had been made
  • Allegations damaged Adams' presidency from the start
  • Created deep political divisions and personal animosity

The controversy surrounding the election ended the "Era of Good Feelings" and accelerated the formation of new political parties.

The Presidency of John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)

Adams' presidency was hampered by the controversial circumstances of his election and by his approach to governance:

• Governing Philosophy:
  • Advocated for active federal government promoting economic development
  • Proposed national university, observatory, and internal improvements
  • Supported protective tariffs and national bank
  • Emphasized merit over party loyalty in appointments
• Political Challenges:
  • Faced growing opposition from Jacksonians, who gained control of Congress after the 1826 elections
  • Refused to use patronage to build political support
  • Rejected the "spoils system" of political appointments
  • Struggled to implement his ambitious agenda
• Opposition Organization:
  • Martin Van Buren, who led the "Albany Regency" political machine in New York, helped build a national Jackson coalition
  • Jacksonians in Congress blocked many of Adams' initiatives after 1826
  • Linked state party organizations to Jackson's campaign
  • Laid groundwork for modern Democratic Party

Adams' principled but politically naive approach to governance ultimately undermined his effectiveness and contributed to his defeat in 1828.

The "Revolution of 1828"

The presidential election of 1828 has been called a "revolution" because it represented the triumph of the new democratic politics:

• Campaign Innovations:
  • First true mass political campaign in American history
  • Extensive use of newspapers and campaign propaganda
  • Large public rallies, parades, and barbecues to mobilize voters
  • Creation of permanent party organizations in states and localities
• Campaign Issues and Tactics:
  • Jackson portrayed as the champion of the common man
  • Adams depicted as an aristocratic, intellectual elite
  • Highly personal attacks on both candidates
  • Scandalous accusations against candidates' wives
  • Regional appeals targeting different voter segments
• Election Outcome:
  • Record voter turnout (approximately three times that of 1824)
  • Jackson won decisive victory (56% of popular vote, 178 electoral votes)
  • Adams became second president to lose re-election (after his father)
  • Demonstrated the power of popular politics and organization

This election established the template for future American political campaigns and confirmed the shift toward mass participatory democracy.

The Rise of the Second Party System

The political battles of the 1820s gave birth to the Second Party System, which shaped American politics through the 1850s:

• Democratic Party:
  • Formed around Andrew Jackson's leadership
  • Appealed to farmers, workers, and frontier settlers
  • Advocated limited government and states' rights
  • Opposed national bank and protective tariffs
  • Supported territorial expansion
• National Republican/Whig Party:
  • Organized in opposition to Jackson
  • Drew support from merchants, manufacturers, and professionals
  • Favored active federal role in economic development
  • Supported protective tariffs, national bank, and internal improvements
  • Led by Henry Clay and later Daniel Webster

The competition between these parties increased political engagement and voter participation to unprecedented levels. Unlike the First Party System, which was largely limited to elites, this new system mobilized ordinary citizens and created a true mass politics.

Limitations of Democratic Expansion

While democracy expanded significantly during this period, important limitations remained:

• Excluded Groups:
  • Women remained disenfranchised
  • Free Black Americans lost voting rights in many Northern states
  • Native Americans denied citizenship
  • Enslaved people had no political rights
• Regional Variations:
  • Western states generally led in democratic reforms
  • Southern states maintained more elite-dominated politics
  • Western states often most aggressive in expanding franchise
• Informal Barriers:
  • Social pressure and intimidation limited free expression
  • Economic dependence constrained political independence for many
  • Religious and ethnic prejudice affected political participation

These limitations reflected the contradictions of American democracy in the early 19th century - revolutionary in its expansion of the franchise for white men, yet exclusionary toward other groups.

The transformation of American politics between 1800 and 1848 created a distinctively American democratic culture characterized by high participation, competitive parties, and campaign spectacle. This "democratization" fundamentally altered the relationship between citizens and government, establishing patterns that would influence American politics for generations to come. While its benefits were initially limited primarily to white men, the democratic principles established during this period would eventually be invoked by excluded groups in their own struggles for political inclusion..

🎥 Watch: AP United States - Age of Jackson