Social Mobility Among The Common Man example essay topic

Andrew Jackson is the most significant political figure in American history, for under Jackson modern American government took shape. In the Jacksonian era, the white middle class took power and has never relinquished it. Because of this, the Jacksonian era has been described as the? Age of the Common Man? According to this view, a democratic, egalitarian culture emerged.

This cultural emergence had a dramatic and wide ranging impact on American life. The previously disenfranchised middle class voted for people more like themselves -- for those who would uphold their interests. This resulted in a group of leaders very different from the upper- class founding fathers -- a group of men who would do anything to avoid being thought aristocratic or elitist, or even non-middle class. These changes promoted social mobility and a more democratic system with Andrew Jackson as leader and James K. Polk as a fitting example. In the eyes of many Americans, Andrew Jackson truly represented the? common man? , hence the era in which he presided over was known as the?

Age of the Common Man? Not only had Jackson fought in the American Revolution like so many other American men, he was the first president to be of humble beginnings. Andrew Jackson had been born in a log cabin on the Appalachian frontier, while many other presidents were refined seaboard gentry. Also known as the? Champion of the People?

, President Jackson stressed the importance of the peoples virtue, intelligence, and capacity for self-government (Martin 235). This political ideology was known as democratic republicanism. Jackson also expressed a deep dislike for the? better classes? , who claimed to be more? enlightened? than the common men and women. His dislike for the? better class? led to reforms that encouraged a democracy and social mobility for the? common man? According to Jackson, the inequalities of wealth and power were due to limited opportunity and special privilege (Martin 235). These inequalities limited the ability of the? common man? to move from one? station? in life to another, which is known as social mobility.

Therefore, the goal of the Jacksonian was to eliminate the injustices that prevented? common? people from earning a share of the nation's wealth and to promote social mobility among the common man. This goal spelled out the new democratic approach to politics. In the name of eliminating special privilege and promoting equality of opportunity, Jackson accomplished many things while in office. Jackson began with his theory of? rotation in office? , known as the?

Spoils system? Rotation in office would ensure that the federal government did not turn corrupt and set apart from the people. This change meant more government positions for Jacksonian supporters and stronger party organization. President Jackson's next major political action involved Indian policy. Indian tribes were viewed upon as being the cause for the block on white expansion.

As a result, Jackson enforced an Indian removal policy, which would open new land for whites. This change represented a broader process for Americans: the political and economic conquest of land for poor whites to settle and develop. In 1816 the federal government chartered the Second Bank of the U.S. Jackson was strongly opposed to the idea of another national bank because he believed it was an agency through which the rich could cheat the common out of their money. So, in 1832 Jackson vetoed the bill to ratify the creation of a second Bank of the U.S. This action meant that the country would be rid of the exploitation of farmers and working men and women, the common, by commercial interest or the? better classes? Finally, in efforts to remove barriers to opportunity for the common, Jackson selected Roger B. Taney as Chief of Justice of the Court. With Taney as Chief Justice, the court ensured that monopolistic privileges would no longer interfere with public welfare.

This decision developed the American system of Free Enterprise, which meant more economic opportunity and social mobility for the? common man? The mid-1820's was a time of political change and transition, and a new party system was forming around the imposing figure of Andrew Jackson. As a dedicated follower of Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk can be regarded as a fitting example of these changes. Polk was born into a prominent and affluent Scotch-Irish family in western North Carolina, therefore establishing himself as a member of the back country elite, like many common men of America. Polk was raised in an atmosphere of strict Presbyterianism, from which he derived a rigid self-discipline that would govern his actions to the end of his life. Like Jackson, James K. Polk held the Jacksonian concept of the presidency, that the president was the only officer of government elected by all the people.

This meant as president of all the people, it was his responsibility to heed the voice of the people and to carry out the popular will. Widely known as Young Hickory, Polk was determined to re-establish the program and policies of Old Hickory that had suffered erosion under the Whigs following the 1840 election. Like his mentor, Polk championed states rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. He believed in a simple, plain, and economical government in order to defend the common man. Through the exercise of the veto power, Polk made full use of his power of presidency to accomplish his goal of a more democratic and egalitarian culture- better known as the?

Age of the Common Man? The span of years between the 1820's and the 1840's has come to be known as? The Age of the Common Man? , an historical period in time in which many important changes took place in American society with regard to political, economical and social concerns. Indeed, one of the most critical aspects of this particular era was the fact that political reforms were designed as a means by which to place more power into hands of the common man. Also, during this period, the United States underwent a profound shift of political culture from a republican to a more democratic form of government. Andrew Jackson was a symbol of this new age of democracy.

He was both an average and ideal American and was therefore able to draw support from every section and social class. Jackson saw himself as President of All the People? defender of the "Common Man". He saw himself as the direct representative of all the people and willingly used his authority on their behalf. One of the hallmarks of the Jacksonian era was James K. Polk. Polk was the ideal Jacksonian, embodying every political theory of that age.

He too believed his duty was to carry out the will of the? Common Man? Therefore, the? Age of the Common Man? can be seen through the eyes of two men with one vision.