4.7 Expanding Democracy

Theme: Politics and Power

Learning Objective 4.G

  • Explain the causes and effects of the expansion of participatory democracy from 1800 to 1848.

KC-4.1.I: Transition to Participatory Democracy

  • The nation underwent a transition to a more participatory democracy.

  • This transition was marked by the expansion of suffrage, moving from a system based on property ownership to one that allowed voting by all adult white men.

  • Accompanied by the growth of political parties, this shift indicated a broader engagement in the political process.

Expansion of Suffrage

  • New Egalitarian Culture:

    • A culture of equality emerged, emphasizing equality of opportunity, but predominantly for free white males.

    • The changes ignored the political rights of women, non-whites, and enslaved individuals.

  • State Constitutions:

    • Many new state constitutions eliminated property requirements for voting.

    • Older states amended their laws to remove such voting requirements.

  • Voter Participation:

    • The number of voters in presidential elections surged, increasing from 350,000 in 1824 to 2.4 million by 1840.

Political Developments Contributing to the Expansion of Democracy

  • Death of the Federalists:

    • The Hartford Convention marked a significant decline for the Federalist Party.

  • Split of the Democratic-Republican Party:

    • The Election of 1824 is often referred to as the "Corrupt Bargain," showcasing deep divisions within the party.

  • Nominating Conventions:

    • The introduction of nominating conventions made the nomination process more transparent and democratic.

  • Emergence of a New Two-Party System:

    • The political landscape shifted to a clear two-party system, consisting of the Democrats and the Whigs.

    • The competitive nature of the new system led to increased campaigning and political tactics, such as mudslinging.

  • Party Loyalty and the Spoils System:

    • Political party loyalty was strengthened through the spoils system, where political supporters received government positions as rewards.

Summary of Expansion of Suffrage and New Political Landscape

  • Voting rights were expanded for adult white men nationwide, resulting in higher engagement in political affairs.

  • The new two-party system, consisting of Democrats and Whigs, facilitated broader participation and engagement in politics by the electorate.