4.7 Expanding Democracy

7 min read•january 27, 2023

Sally Kim

Robby May

Riya Patel

Sally Kim

Robby May

Riya Patel

AP US History 🇺🇸

454 resources

See Units

Expanding Democracy

During the 1820s and 1830s, democracy began expanding in the US during what became known as the "era of the common man". The following are some of the ways in which democracy expanded during this time:

Property requirements for voting were lifted in many states, allowing more men to vote regardless of their wealth or property ownership.
The introduction of the secret ballot allowed people to vote without fear of intimidation or retribution.
State and federal government positions became more accessible to common men, as opposed to just the elite.
Political parties began to develop and mobilize more of the population, encouraging greater political participation.
The rise of populist and reform movements, such as the Workingmen's Party and the Temperance Movement, helped to empower ordinary citizens to take a more active role in politics.
The expansion of the franchise, with the abolition of property qualifications, and the rise of mass political parties, increased the number of people who could participate in the political process.
The rise of Andrew Jackson and his "Jacksonian Democracy" movement, which advocated for greater political participation and representation for ordinary citizens.
The expansion of the press and the rise of newspapers and magazines, which helped to increase access to information and political ideas for the general public.

Universal Male Suffrage	Many states abolished the property qualification to vote and used written ballots during this era, but women and African Americans were still not allowed to vote. This meant that only white men who met the age requirement were allowed to vote.
Political Nominating Conventions	In the past, candidates for office had been commonly nominated either by state legislature or by “King Caucus”, a closed-door meeting of a political party’s leaders in Congress. These were replaced by party nominating conventions. This allowed for a more democratic process, as convention attendees were typically elected by the party’s rank-and-file members, rather than just the party elite.
Popular Election of the President	All states, with the exception of South Carolina, adopted the democratic method of allowing voters to choose their electors to the electoral college (based on the majority popular vote) instead of the state legislatures choosing. This change helped to make the presidential election process more democratic and representative of the will of the people. Prior to this change, the state legislatures had chosen the electors and the popular vote had little effect on the outcome of the presidential election.

Election of 1824

The Election of 1824 was a significant event in American history, as it resulted in the first presidential election to be decided by the House of Representatives in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Four different candidates ran as Democratic-Republicans: Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay.

While Jackson won the most popular and electoral votes, he did not gain a majority. This resulted in the election being decided by the House of Representatives, which chose among the candidates with the exception of Clay. Clay had given his support for Adams and later became the Secretary of State for Adams.

Jackson claimed that Clay and Adams had a corrupt bargain, meaning that they made a deal behind closed doors to make Clay the Secretary of State while giving his support to Adams. This led to Jackson being infuriated and he began his campaign for the 1828 election right then. This election marked the end of the Era of Good Feelings and the beginning of the Second Party System.

Presidency of Quincy Adams

Once elected, John Quincy Adams took a different approach to appointing people to government positions compared to his predecessors. He refused to replace many appointees and placed most qualified people into positions, even if they held different political beliefs. This approach, known as the "Spoils System," was not popular among the Democratic-Republicans, who had expected to benefit from the appointments.

Adams' lack of interest in political patronage and his tendency to appoint people based on merit rather than political loyalty led to a rift with his own party and the rise of Martin Van Buren, a political leader from New York who had been instrumental in securing Adams' victory in the House of Representatives. Van Buren, who had been appointed as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, took control over the House of Representatives and the Senate and effectively blocked Adams' decisions.

Van Buren and his followers, known as the "Albany Regency," used their control of the Congress to further their own political ambitions and to oppose Adams' policies. This ultimately led to a split in the Democratic-Republican Party and the rise of the Democratic Party, which was led by Van Buren and his supporters. This marked the end of the Era of Good Feelings and the beginning of the Second Party System.

The Revolution of 1828

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia

When John Quincy Adams sought reelection in 1828, the Jacksonians were well prepared to challenge him. They used a variety of tactics to campaign for their candidate, including large parades and barbecues, but they also resorted to more negative tactics, such as smearing the president and spreading rumors about his wife. The campaign was particularly nasty, with JQA's supporters accusing Jackson's wife of adultery and the Jacksonians spreading false rumors that JQA's wife was born out of wedlock.

The campaign led to a significant increase in voter turnout, with many people becoming more politically active and engaged. Jackson's status as a war hero, due to his victories in the Seminole Wars and the Battle of New Orleans, also helped him win support from many voters. In the end, Jackson won a decisive victory over Adams, receiving a majority of both the popular and electoral votes. This was the first time in U.S history that an incumbent president lost his re-election bid. The campaign is widely considered as the first modern presidential campaign, and the beginning of the Second Party System.

🎥 Watch: AP United States - Age of Jackson

Key Vocabulary

Universal Male Suffrage

Universal Male Suffrage refers to the expansion of the right to vote to all adult white men, regardless of property ownership. This was a significant development in the early 19th century, as it expanded the franchise and increased political participation among white men who previously did not have the right to vote due to property requirements. However, it should be noted that women and African Americans were still excluded from voting at this time.

Political Nominating Conventions

Political Nominating Conventions refers to the new method of selecting candidates for political office, in which party members gather at a convention to choose their nominee. This replaced the previous system of nominations by state legislatures or by a closed-door meeting of a political party's leaders in Congress. This change enabled ordinary party members to have a greater say in the selection of candidates and increased the democratic nature of the process.

Popular Election of the President

The Popular Election of the President refers to the change in the way the President is elected, in which the people, rather than the state legislatures, vote for electors who then cast their vote for President. This change was a significant development in the early 19th century, as it increased the democratic nature of the presidential election process and gave more power to the people to choose their leader. It should be noted that this change was not adopted by all states at the same time and South Carolina was the only state that still had the state legislature choosing the electors.

Election of 1824

The Presidency of John Quincy Adams was marked by his refusal to replace many of the previous administration's appointees and his tendency to appoint highly qualified individuals, regardless of their political views. This led to tension with other members of his party and ultimately contributed to his loss in the 1828 election.

The Revolution of 1828 refers to the election of Andrew Jackson as President in 1828, which was marked by increased voter turnout and a shift in power from the established elite to the "common man." This election is often seen as a turning point in American politics, marking the rise of the "Jacksonian Democracy" movement and the emergence of a more populist political landscape.

Presidency of Quincy Adams

The Revolution of 1828 refers to the political campaign and subsequent election of Andrew Jackson as President in 1828. This election saw a significant increase in voter turnout and was characterized by intense political campaigning and personal attacks on the candidates and their families. It is often seen as a turning point in American politics, marking the rise of Jacksonian democracy and the beginning of a new era in American politics.

The Revolution of 1828

The Revolution of 1828 was a significant event in American history as it marked the end of the Era of Good Feelings, and the beginning of the Second Party System. It was characterized by the rise of Andrew Jackson and his supporters, known as the Jacksonians, and marked a shift towards more democratic ideals and increased participation of the common man in politics. It also marked the first time an incumbent president lost his re-election bid and the emergence of the Democratic Party, which would go on to dominate American politics for the next 30 years.

Browse Study Guides By Unit

🌽Unit 1 – Interactions North America, 1491-1607

🦃Unit 2 – Colonial Society, 1607-1754

🔫Unit 3 – Conflict & American Independence, 1754-1800