Ideals of Jacksonian Democracy
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Ideals of Jacksonian democracy were the setting for the time period 1825-1850. Due to this playing a large role in society at the time. It can be stated that most reform movements in the United States Played a partial role in expanding democratic ideas. Reforms that had to do with abolition, transcendence, and the womens suffrage movements play a key role in the idea of spreading democracy as well.
Ideas of abolition were slowly making the way through the United States. The idea that “all men are created equal” was coming into full effect as African Americans, and some white men stood up. People like Patrick Reason, who in 1835 made an engraving with a black women in shackles with the phrase “Am I not a Woman and a Sister!” the whole idea of this political cartoon is to show the agony of the times, and to make people more sympathetic to abolition.
Transcendence attributed to democracy due to the ideas of the “common man” being sober. In the image in Document H it shows certain stages of a drinkers life. Ending of course with “Death and Suicide”. When it comes to democracy it hits the fact that drinking should be frowned upon in the society that was going through at the time. So when transcendence spread so did this idea of staying sober to help out the family and the rest of the nation.
Womens suffrage played a major role in democracy. The idea was directly linked to abolition in terms of freedom. White women started to rise up and notice that all of these things were being done to try and free slaves but they had no freedom themselves. In document 1, Elizabeth Stanton said at the Seneca falls declaration that “our right is to be free as man is free”. This idea really hits it home with the ideals of democracy because they now want freedom as well, and not just for African Americans.
Most reforms during this time period helped spread democracy in a variety of ways. Whether it was through transcendence, abolition, or even womens suffrage. Reform movement helped spread the idea of democracy.