The Geek Forum
Main Forums => Homework Help => Topic started by: kanca mosan on October 30, 2008, 03:54:37 PM
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Rather interesting:
Define democracy, and explain how Jacksonian democracy departed from the traditional republican political culture of the post-revolutionary period. How did America's definition of democracy change from the Federalist era to the Jacksonian period? How does its current definition differ from that of the early nineteenth century?
Democracy is easily defined, but the rest is not so clear. I would just like some other peoples' opinions.
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Let's hear your thoughts, first. We're not here to do your homework for you, but we'll certainly raise the level of debate with you.
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My basic thoughts/answer:
Well, democracy is obviously a government of the people. As democracy progressed in these early years after the revolution, more people got the right to vote (although only white males were allowed, just requirements for white males were reduced). Also, with the progression of time, more people participated in the politics. People wanted more material to read from, such as newspapers, etc. so they could become more knowledgeable about the topic.
As time passed, people started liking political parties, compared to how they used to heartily dislike them before. This led to different types of politicians, and a different style of organization. This all happened during the time period of before and during the Jackson presidency.
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This all happened during the time period of before and during the Jackson presidency.
Ah, but now demonstrate how.
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Democracy: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.
Republic: a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.
The US is the latter, by design of the founding fathers.
Hope it stays that way.
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Ah, but now demonstrate how.
It was just a different way of thinking that caused these things. A different way of thinking resulted in a different outlook on political parties, which resulted in different politicians, etc.
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You're overlooking a serious paradigm shift that happened with the Jackson presidency, though. (I would argue that the Federalists were pretty much done by the time Van Buren held office, but that's nit-picking.)
We know what a republic is and we know what a democracy is, but Jackson offered a rather radical departure from the norm. No, I'm not telling you what it is.
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Mmmmmm President Jackson (http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/napolitano4.html)