Jacksonian Democracy refers to the social and political ideas that shaped the period encompassing Andrew Jackson's presidency (1829-1837). Jacksonian Democracy reflects an attempt to approach as closely as possible the literal meaning of the famous phrase "of the people, by the people, and for the people." The central focus of Jacksonian Democracy was the idea that the people should have greater power in government. In addition, the measures undertaken to elevate the common man's influence also served to create a greater sense of equality: equality of opportunity.
Before this period, not all white men could vote, much less the other sections of the population. In Jacksonian Democracy, the landholding requirement for voting rights was lifted. White men did not have to own land to enjoy the right to vote. Doing this granted the common person the same opportunity to influence government policy as more affluent members of society. In addition, requirements for admission into more specialized occupations were relaxed a great deal. Common people had the opportunity to become doctors or lawyers without having to jump through too many hoops. The impact of these measures cannot be overestimated. It was not until the Jacksonian period that candidates even found it necessary to campaign. Since the average person enjoyed the same voting status as more affluent citizens, their opinions could no longer be ignored.
Jacksonian Democracy, in many ways, reflects a continuation and expansion on ideas already present in Jeffersonian Democracy. Jeffersonian Democracy, unlike its Jacksonian Democracy counterpart, did not extend voting rights to many citizens. Under Jeffersonian Democracy, voters still needed to meet certain landholding requirements, but those requirements were more relaxed than they had been. In addition, Jeffersonian Democracy sought to offer greater economic opportunities to common farmers, something that Jacksonian Democracy continued to carry forward.
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