Essay Examples on Jacksonian Democracy Essay Example

Essay Examples on Jacksonian Democracy Paper 1st Essay Sample on Jacksonian Democracy The spirit of an age sometimes descends to future generations in the form of a man, in proportion as an individual concentrates within himself, the spirit which works through masses of men, and which moves, and should move them through the greatest cycles of time, in that proportion, he becomes entitled to their admiration and praise. (Washington McCartney, â€Å"Eulogy-on the Death of Andrew Jackson) (http://www.nv.cc.va.us/home/nvsageh/Hist121/Part3/AgeofJackson.htm) The greatest popular hero of his time, a man of action, and an expansionist, Jackson was associated with the movement toward increased popular participation in government. He was regarded by many as the symbol of the democratic feelings of the time, and later generations were to speak of Jacksonian democracy. Although in broadest terms this movement often attacked citadels of privilege or monopoly and sought to broaden opportunities in many areas of life, there has been much dispute among historians over its essentia l social nature. At one time it was characterized as being rooted in the democratic nature of the frontier. Later historians pointed to the workers of the eastern cities as the defining element in the Jacksonian political coalition. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/JacksoA_JacksonianDemocrac.asp) Because his countrymen saw their image and spirit in Andrew Jackson, they bestowed their honor and admiration upon him. Jacksonian democracy was created during antebellum America. The Jackson democrats attempted to aggrandize the puissance of lower classes poor while decreasing the influence of the rich and potent. Economically, they benefited from governing during a time of paramount advances in transportation, which boosted commerce and helped the common man. Politically, they invested power into an overwhelmingly powerful executive branch. 2nd Essay Sample on Jacksonian Democracy Jacksonian Democracy was thought of by aristocratic historians of the nineteenth century as an ill-bred outburst that overturned the electoral system and wrecked the national financial structure.Some historians who came after these, however, had contrasting views from those before them.Frederick Jackson Turner was a historian who held the west highly in a democratic sense.He felt Jackson to be a hero who was one of the people who stood up to protect the people against those who where for the progress of monied interest.Turner once argued that the United States only survived through the growing west, and not to the east.A historian who agreed with some of Turners views, but had some differing opinions on to how the conflict was labeled was Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.He felt that the Jacksonian era was more of a move by common people to give them power over the aristocratic elite.Schlesinger was against the back and felt Jackson was in the right by attacking it. Richard Hofstadter had a very contrasting view on Jefferson Democracy than Schlesinger.He did not agree that Jackson was against capitalism.Rather her thought the Jacksonian era was just one capitalist group trying to overcome another.One historian, Lee Benson, who felt that religion, class, or occupation were not consistent in characterizing the Jacksonian era.On the far side of Bensons arguments, was one Sean Wilentz, who believed that this era was one of an economic struggle between the group losing economic power and the new capitalism. Of the views put forth by these historians on the Jacksonian Democracy, I would place my support with Schlesinger.I feel that his thoughts are very strong and are supported through what we know about Jackson.His being for the people was a very strong part of his campaign, which I agree with. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Jacksonian Democracy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Jacksonian Democracy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Jacksonian Democracy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Foreign Policy Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s, Free Essays

Foreign Policy Essays - Counterculture Of The 1960s, Free Essays Foreign Policy With the world balancing on the edge of destruction, foreign relationships are extremely important to the United States of America. The United States is fully recognized as the most powerful nation on the planet earth, and with that power comes a definitive sense of responsibility. The U.S. needs to pay close attention to this responsibility if it hopes to keep its place on the throne as king of the nations. This is where the United States foreign policy comes into play. Foreign policy is essentially positive or negative interaction with other nations as well as the goals and principles that are included (Morrison #1 607). The United States have a couple of choices concerning their position; they could play the part of world leader or the part of world loner. Let?s look at the viewpoint of an average college student whose knowledge of world affairs is somewhat lacking and then discuss the possible positions the United States can take in regards to their place in the world. I will also go over an example of each and get a grasp of what our government?s two political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, say about these. The main purpose of every countries foreign policy is to survive and stay stable in todays world (Morrison #2 434). It is policy that provides a strong national security, keeps a good economy with other nations, and it is a chance to provide influence in the world; but above all this is the want for international peace (434). One of the main ways to conduct good foreign policy is that of diplomacy, where nations negotiate and compromise problems they might have in order to get along (434). By these diplomatic relations, countries can interact with one another and learn to work together for a better understanding of each others nations. Another method of foreign policy is that of being a loner or isolationist. Isolationism is the idea that we keep to ourselves and our own western hemisphere rather than venture into the affairs of the eastern world (Morrison #1 611). This was basically the accepted perspective taken by the United States up until about the first world war when President Woodrow Wilson decided to plunge into the war effort. Then a peacekeeping association came about called the League of Nations, which Wilson helped propose, but the United States Senate gave it a firm ?no? (608). This kept the United States in its loner state once again. Some years later the United States entered a period of awakening concerning getting out and about in the world. We journeyed into a time of Internationalism after the second world war but it was many earlier events that led up to this, particularly our interaction with Latin America. Back when the United States was just breaking away from Britain and starting as a nation, President James Monroe came up with a declaration called the Monroe Doctrine. In 1823 he wrote this, telling European nations to keep their noses in their own hemisphere (609). What Monroe didn?t know was that he was establishing a beginning to a leadership responsibility in not only the western hemisphere, but in the entire world. The United States began sticking up for nations such as Mexico and Puerto Rico, and soon got involved in various other Latin American countries. In fact, the United States got involved eight times from 1904 to 1934, then again in the affairs of Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and the destruction of the leftist government of Brazil after the second world war (612). It was during the beginning of World War II that the United States began to get more involved. At first the United States tried to keep to itself and stay out of the fighting. But when Germany, Japan, and Italy tried to expand by force into China, Ethiopia, Poland, Austria, and present day Czech Republic, Britain and France declared war on Hitler, and the United States did nothing (611-612). It wasn?t until that fateful day of December 7 in 1941 when the United States had had enough. Pearl Harbor was attacked and Americans died, which was more than enough for us to start our trek into Internationalism and intervention. After World War II, the United States began its journey as world leader. It was now time for America to help other nations rebuild and start its hate of Communism. George Marshall, an Army General for the United States came up with the Marshall Plan, one that would