Democracy is Government by the People

"Democracy has been through a lot of changes from the 1800’s until this present day. Encyclopaedia Britannica says that a Democracy is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and is exercised by them. Democracies are based on “rule of law.” US history.org states that the Greeks are famous for practicing Direct Democracy, a system in which citizens meet to discuss all policy, and then make decisions by majority rule. Another modern version of democracy is called Democratic Centralism, which is a principle of Communist party by which members take part in policy discussions and elections at all levels but must follow decisions made at higher levels.

Sage American History states that from history, we know that Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton could barely stand to be in the same room together. If Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson had been contemporaries, they would still have had a hard time being on the same planet together. The difference between Hamilton and Jefferson was their differences between conservative and liberal philosophies. With the Jeffersonian Democracy, only 50% of the white male population could vote due to property and taxpayer restrictions. On the other hand, the Jacksonian Democracy only let 90% of the white male population to vote due to the elimination or reduction of property qualifications and westward expansion.

Jefferson’s view of Democracy was that a virtuous republic in which states rights are protected from a powerful national government. Jacksonian’s view of Democracy was that democracy among white men allows for equal opportunities, rather than preserving power. According to Miller Center, Andrew Jackson left a permanent imprint upon American politics and the presidency. Within eight years he had the most durable and successful political party. Congress also passed only one major law, the Indian Removal Act of 1830. During this time Jackson vetoed twelve bills One of these was the first “pocket veto” in American history. Jackson also strengthened himself against Congress by forging direct links with the voters.

Jackson was both a fiery patriot and a strident partisan, and he denounced nullification and secession. His aggressive Indian Removal policy and cheaper western land prices reflected his nationalism. Also, his powerful personality played an instrumental role in his presidency. To many admirers he stands as a shining symbol or American accomplishment, the ultimate individualist and democrat.

According to Owlcation, some more changes that were significant to the future development of the American Republic was during the period from Jackson’s inauguration as president up to the Civil War known as the Jacksonian Era or the Rise of the Common Man. This period constituted great change and issues warranting debate, such as slavery, Indians, westward mobility, and balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. With these changes, the common man now had the right to vote, without distinction of owning land, and nominating candidates for office. The form of the American Republic was very different under president Andrew Jackson than it was for president Jefferson and have very different qualities from each other when it came to the Evolution of Democracy."

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