Jacksonian Democracy

Definition

Jacksonian Democracy refers to the political philosophy of U.S. President Andrew Jackson and his supporters during the 1820s-1830s. It championed greater rights for the common man against a "corrupt aristocracy" and pushed for broader voting rights, especially for white males.

Related terms

Spoils System: This is a practice where a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its voters as a reward for working toward victory. It was heavily used during Jackson's presidency.

Indian Removal Act: A law passed in 1830 under President Andrew Jackson that forced many Native American tribes to relocate from their ancestral homelands in southeastern U.S. to lands west of the Mississippi River.

Nullification Crisis: A conflict between the U.S. state of South Carolina and the federal government under President Andrew Jackson, occurring in 1832–33 over southern states' resistance against federally imposed tariffs they deemed unfair.