The Rise of Democracy and the Western Movement

After the war of 1812 and before the civil war, arose two new political parties. The Whigs were basically the federalists part 2, fought against the Democratic party. Andrew Jackson dominated this era as he hero of new orleans. Democratic Jackson favored the view of the common man. Expansion was important during this time, John O’Sullivan’s Manifest Destiny

• Jacksonian democracy (1826-1836) symbolized the rise of the common man

  • war against the bank and the tariff were key issues for the new democratc party

  • Jackson initiated the spoils system, in which political enemies are replaced by political friends

  • pursued nationalistic policies

• Whig Party opposed the Democratic’s view in states’ rights and favored a strong national government

• Territorial expansion of the US reached from Mississippi River to the Pacific ocean

  • rise of New West created opportunities in transportation, education, politics, mining and agriculture

  • Trail of Tears (1838-1839) forced the removal of native americans from their native land in the south to the Oklahoma territory

  • Manifest destiny encouraged US expansion to the pacific

    • destined to expand westward

    • Texas was annexed in to the US in 1837

    • Oregon territory was added to the US in 1846 and encouraged settlement of the far west

    • The Mexican War (1848) added California and parts of the southwest to the US