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Essay / Jeffersonian Democracy Essay - 1641
How did the transition from Jeffersonian to Jacksonian democracy change American values? All of the values we have as Americans stem from the founding of our country and have evolved with the growth and expansion of our nation. In the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson was elected, which began a period known as Jeffersonian democracy. This was the term used to express Jefferson's influence on American politicians; however, it also describes the political culture from 1800 to the late 1820s. In the same sense, Jacksonian democracy does the same. Andrew Jackson was elected in 1828 and his influence continued during the Mexican War through President Polk. During these early periods, the United States developed and grew into what we understand today. American values grew with the country, and the transition from Jeffersonian to Jacksonian democracy produced new values. The Revolution of 1800 was a significant success in the new political system due to the peaceful transition from Federalist to Anti-Federalist power. Thomas Jefferson valued the country's success and leaned toward states' rights as president. And as one of the founders of our country, his ideas have been incorporated into many areas of government. One of his most influential suggestions for society was his belief that the nation should be ruled by an educated elite, which leads to the fact that there should be educated voters, which appears in the electoral college and his support for public schools. This prompted states to very lightly write ownership requirements into their statutes. They were cast rather than modified. Racism, ethnocentrism, or supremacy, while not good, was present from the beginning of America with slavery. It grew and shaped itself to include both Mexicans and African-Americans, and it blended with nationalism through its ethnocentric capabilities. The strong national identity, created by our new government and shaped by democracy and war, grew stronger as the country expanded. Representation in government expanded with the incorporation of mass democracy. As the country expanded, land became more accessible to ordinary people who wanted to achieve the American dream. Opportunities became more available to the dreams of Americans and immigrants. America progressed on its path by expanding and changing the values of the people, until the mass democracy of the Jacksonian era allowed the people to shape their values for themselves..