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Example research essay topic: John Quincy Adams House Of Representatives - 1,467 words

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The Emergence of a more Democratic Republic We should recall that democracy as we understand it at the end of the Twentieth Century did not exist in the ages of Jefferson and Jackson. Today we accept the notion that democracy means that every citizen has a vote, with certain reasonable restrictions such as age, registration requirements and so on. In the early 1800 s it was generally accepted that in order to vote a person needed to have a legal stake in the system, which could mean property ownership or some economic equivalent. In many states the people did not vote for presidential electors, and U.

S. senators were elected by the state legislatures. Even eligibility to vote for members of the House of Representatives was left to the individual states. Women, Indians and Blacks (whether slave or free) were restricted from voting almost everywhere. When Sam Houston was elected governor of Tennessee in 1828, his friends had to make him a gift of 500 acres of land, which was a requirement for holding that office. In the decades surrounding the presidency of Andrew Jackson democracy began to expand.

States rewrote constitutions and extended the franchise to all free white males. European visitors such as Alexis de Tocqueville noticed the spirit of equality that pervaded the United States, unlike anything known in the Old World. (Not all Europeans, nor Americans, for that matter, were sure that was a good idea -- terms like "mobocracy" and "anarchy" were thrown around from time to time. ) By the late 1830 s, the United States had become a full democracy for adult white males, but inequalities still existed: poor people were still poor, and while wealth may not have bought votes directly, it certainly was a prerequisite for any kind of real power. What was different about America was not that the gap between rich and poor had narrowed -- indeed, the opposite was probably true -- but that there were few systemic barriers (except for slavery) that prevented people from gaining wealth and power. However limited, the idea of America as a land of unprecedented opportunity was not inaccurate in the context of the times. Importantly, equality of opportunity did not necessarily mean equality of result, a concept with which Americans continue to wrestle in making political choices. The other major change in the Jacksonian era was the emergence of a solid two-party system.

The modern Democratic Party was founded under Jackson, and an opposition party the Whigssoon evolved. When that party disappeared in the early 1850 s, it was soon replaced by the Republican Party, giving the U. S. the basic political structure that survives to this day.

Although many issues have changed since the 1800 s, the present Republican and Democratic parties have much in common with their ancestors. Another development in the Age of Jackson was that the idea of political service as a sort of noblesse oblige which was the way people like Washington and Jefferson tended to look at its gone. Politics for many men became if not a career, than certainly something they pursued because they wanted to, not because they thought they ought to. What rewards they sought are no easier to establish then than they are today recognition, a sense of power, perhaps financial gain and other factors were no doubt present in those who sought office of government related jobs, but in any case it became possible to think in terms of the profession of politics. John Quincy Adams was probably the man who personified that transition, having served in a variety of public offices for most of his life during a career that went back to his father's time, but in the election of 1828 he was criticized for that fact: the notion of a professional politician still did not sit well with many. The election of 1824 is most interesting for the fact that it is the last election in which the result was not decided by the electoral college.

Because no one won a majority of votes in that body, it went into the House of Representatives, which decided in favor of John Quincy Adams even though Andrew Jackson had won the popular vote. Although it is not known what went on behind the scenes, Jackson's supporters spoke of a "corrupt bargain" between Adams and Henry Clay, an issue that carried over to the election of 1828 and had a harmful effect on Adams' administration. Five candidates had sought the presidency in 1824, backed not by parties as such but by various state caucuses and coalitions. John Quincy Adams, William Crawford, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Andrew Jackson all had their hats in the ring, although Calhoun dropped out and Crawford became ill. Thus it became a three-man race, and when Adams, the winner, named Henry Clay as Secretary of state post that seemed to lead straight to the presidency, having been held by every previous president except Washington and John Adams Jackson's people smelled a rat.

Jackson's men in Congress gave Adams a bad time, and his presidency was not successful. (Note: It is interesting that among the great figures from early American history, several had presidencies that did not seem to live up to their other accomplishments, including Jefferson, Madison and John Quincy Adams. ) The Life and Times of Andrew Jackson We have discussed (or will discuss) Andrew Jackson's life in some detail in class, including the famous story of the duel in which he apparently shot a man named Charles Dickenson to death in cold blood. Although Jackson was a wealthy landowner, slave owner, attorney, businessman and general, he had common origins, and was thought by some to have been a crude individual. He certainly had a volatile personality and led anything but a calm and quiet existence. Yet based on his heroic defense of New Orleans in 1815, he was a popular hero of the highest order, the second in a series of successful military men who rose to high political office. Jackson's popularity was based on the following: He was best known as an Indian fighter war hero, although when elected president he was a wealthy man of property. Jackson was a symbol of the new age of democracy the "age of the common man. " He was both an average and ideal American and was therefore able to draw support from every section and social class.

Jackson could be charming, and he was basically honest; there was never any doubt about his courage, either physical or moral. He was a charismatic but not intellectual leader; highly intelligent, shrewd and practical. A true westerner at heart, and a slave holder, Jackson resented the North and East. On the other hand, he did not buy into the growing states' rights philosophy that was beginning to grow stronger in that era. Jackson had reputation as a hotheaded brawler who never forgave enemies.

He was not above using that reputation to make an impression on people. (In a famous incident in the White House, he apparently lost his temper and fumed at some unwelcome guests, who fled in horror. When they had gone, he turned to an aide, grinned and said, "They thought I was mad, didn't they?" ) The meaning of the Battle of New Orleans was seen as a victory for the American farmer and affirmed the value of "undisciplined" fighters as opposed to the British regulars. It was one of the most one-sided victories ever. Jackson was seen as a man of extraordinary will power, which could accomplish much.

The Charles Dickinson duel: they used pistols at 24 feet. Jackson decided to let Dickinson, a dead shot, fire first; Jackson wore loose clothing to disguise his outline. Jackson took a hit in breast, then calmly fired. The pistol was half cocked and didn't go off, but Jackson, in considerable pain from the bullet in his chest, re-cocked the pistol and fired again, killing his opponent.

Jackson left the field not letting anyone know he was hit. The bullet lodged near his heart and stayed there for the rest of his life, causing frequent discomfort. When Jackson died, an observer said, "If Andy Jackson decides on heaven, thats where hell go!" Jackson grew in office of president and made that office more democratic. He did not act as a "dignified chief of state above politics" but rather as a political infighter who saw his role as protecting the people from the excesses of Congress.

His presidency was one piece of a long struggle over the nature of government power and authority: at which end of Pennsylvania Avenue does the real power reside: In Congress or the White House? Jackson saw the office of President as a protection against the power usurped...


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Research essay sample on John Quincy Adams House Of Representatives

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