Jacksonian Democrat DBQ essays

Jacksonian Democrat DBQ essays During the early period of independent America, many of the founding fathers and early leaders tended to be elite, aristocratic and well educated, a curse that the common man had fought hard to get away from in their revolution from Great Britain. The common man wanted to have a voice and be heard. The presidential election of 1824 had angered the people of America as the general consensus was ignored and the aristocratic House of Representatives decided the election. The peoples nominee, Andrew Jackson, had been a great general in the War of 1812; he was intelligent even without a college degree and was born in the heart of America off of the eastern seaboard. Andrew Jackson was the image of the common man. Jackson and his followers, the Jacksonian-Democrats, looked on themselves as the protectors of the constitution and strived to protect the nation as a whole. Jacksonian-Democrats defended political democracy, which brought forth individual freedoms and assisted economic opportuni ty, but their claims as the guardians of the constitution were false, as they were rather protectors of the common man. Jacksonian-Democrats didnt let the constitution get in the way of their goals, especially pertaining to economic equality. When President Jackson vetoed the Bank of the United States recharter, many spoke out against his decision, including political opponent Daniel Webster (Document C). [This message] extends the grasp of executive Heringer 2 pretension over every power of the government.... Webster believed that Jacksons veto over stepped the boundaries of the executive office, abused the constitution, and it was a scam,...to inflame the poor against the rich.... Webster was partially right. The Bank of the United States was a safe place for the government to store mon ...

The 1980s American Economy

The 1980s American Economy In the early 1980s, the American economy was suffering through a deep recession. Business bankruptcies rose sharply compared to previous years. Farmers also suffered due to a decline in agricultural exports, falling crop prices, and rising interest rates. But by 1983, the economy  had rebounded and enjoyed a sustained period of growth as the annual inflation rate stayed below 5 percent for the remainder of the 1980s and part of the 1990s. Why did the American economy experience such a turnaround in the 1980s? In â€Å"Outline of the U.S. Economy,† Christopher Conte and Albert R. Karr point to the lasting impacts of the 1970s, Reaganism, and the Federal Reserve. Impact of  the 1970s The 1970s was a disaster on American economics. The recession marked the end of the post-World War II economic boom, and the United States experienced a lasting period of stagflation- a combination of high unemployment and inflation. Voters held Washington politicians responsible for the economic state of the country. Upset with federal policies, they ousted President  Jimmy Carter in 1980 and voted in former Hollywood actor and California Gov.  Ronald Reagan  as president, a position he held from 1981 to 1989. Reagans Economic Policy The economic disorder of the 1970s lingered into the beginning of the 1980s. But Reagan’s economic program soon had an effect. Reagan operated on the basis of supply-side economics- the theory that advocates lower tax rates so people can keep more of their income. Proponents argue that supply-side economics results in more savings, investment, production, and, ultimately, greater economic growth. Reagan’s tax cuts mainly benefited the wealthy, but through a chain-reaction, they also helped lower-income earners as higher levels of investment eventually led to new job openings and higher wages. The Size of the Government Cutting taxes was only one part of Reagan’s national agenda of slashing government spending. Reagan believed the federal government had become too large and interfering. During his presidency, he cut social programs and worked to reduce or eliminate government regulations that  affected the consumer, workplace, and environment. But he did spend on the military. In the wake of the disastrous Vietnam War, Reagan successfully pushed for big budget increases for defense spending by arguing that the U.S. had neglected its military.   Growing Federal Deficit In the end, the reduction in taxes combined with increased military spending outweighed the spending reductions on domestic social programs. This resulted in a federal budget deficit that went well beyond the deficit levels of the early 1980s. From $74 billion in 1980, the federal budget deficit ballooned to $221 billion in 1986. It fell back to $150 billion in 1987, but then started growing again. Federal Reserve With such levels of deficit spending, the Federal Reserve remained vigilant about controlling price increases and raising interest rates any time they seemed a threat. Under the leadership of Paul Volcker and his successor Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve effectively guided America’s economy and eclipsed Congress and the president. Although some economists were nervous that heavy government spending and borrowing would lead to steep inflation, the Federal Reserve succeeded in its role as an economic traffic cop during the 1980s.   Source Conte, Christopher and Karr, Albert R. â€Å"Outline of the U.S. Economy.† U.S. Department of State, 2001, Washington, D.C.