Samuel Petersen, Megan King, Sho Murphey, Naomi Choice, Jack Demello

Question 1 (Document-Based Question): 55 minutesSuggested Reading period: 15 minutesSuggested writing period: 40 minutes

Directions: Question 1 is based on the accompanying documents. The documents have been edited for the purpose of this exercise. You are advised to spend 15 minutes reading and planning and 45 minutes writing your answer.

Write your responses on the lined pages that follow the question.

In your response you should do the following: State a relevant thesis that directly addresses all parts of the question. Support the thesis or a relevant argument with evidence from all, or all but one, of the documents. Incorporate analysis of all, or all but one, of the documents into your argument. Focus your analysis of each document on at least one of the following: intended audience, purpose,

historical context, and/or point of view. Support your argument with analysis of historical examples outside the documents Connect historical phenomena relevant to your argument to broader events or processes. Synthesize the elements above into a persuasive essay that extends your argument, connects it to a

different historical context, or accounts for contradictory evidence on the topic.

1. To what extent did the Jackson Administration and it’s actions represent a turning point in American Democracy?

Document 1

Source: Jackson presidential campaign poster (1828)

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Document 2

Document 3

Source: Andrew Jackson's veto message (July 10, 1832)I sincerely regret that in the act before me I can perceive none of those modifications of the bank charter which are necessary, in my opinion, to make it compatible with justice, with sound policy, or with the Constitution of our country. . . . The present Bank of the United States . . . enjoys an exclusive privilege of banking, . . . almost a monopoly of the foreign and domestic exchange.        It appears that more than a fourth part of the stock is held by foreigners and the residue is held by a few hundred of our own citizens, chiefly of the richest class.        Of the twenty-five directors of this bank five are chosen by the Government and twenty by the citizen stockholders. . . . It is easy to conceive that great evils to our country and its institutions might flow from such a concentration of power in the hands of a few men irresponsible to the people.        Is there no danger to our liberty and independence in a bank that in its nature has so little to bind it to our country?It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes.

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Document 4

Source: George Henry Evans, "The Working Men's Declaration of Independence" (December 1829)

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights" against the undue influence of other classes of society, prudence, as well as the claims of self defense, dictates the necessity of the organization of a party, who shall, by their representatives, prevent dangerous combinations to subvert these indefeasible and fundamental privileges. "All experience hath shown, that mankind" in general, and we as a class in particular, "are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves," by an opposition which the pride and self interest of unprincipled political aspirants, with more unprincipled zeal or religious bigotry, will willfully misrepresent. "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations" take place, all invariably tending to the oppression and degradation of one class of society, and to the unnatural and iniquitous exaltation of another by political leaders, "it is their right, it is their duty," to use every constitutional means to reform the abuses of such a government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Source: Democratic cartoon. Jackson destroying the National Bank with his “Order for Removal.” (1833)

Document 5

Source: Alexis De Tocqueville, French writer and observer of Democracy;“Democracy in America”(1835)In America the people appoints the legislative and the executive power, and furnishes the jurors who

punish all offences against the laws. The American institutions are democratic, not only in their principle but in all their consequences; and the people elects its representatives directly, and for the most part annually, in order to ensure their dependence. The people is therefore the real directing power; and although the form of government is representative, it is evident that the opinions, the prejudices, the interests, and even the passions of the community are hindered by no durable obstacles from exercising a perpetual influence on society. In the United States the majority governs in the name of the people, as is the case in all the countries in which the people is supreme. The majority is principally composed of peaceful citizens who, either by inclination or by interest, are sincerely desirous of the welfare of their country. But they are surrounded by the incessant agitation of parties, which attempt to gain their co-operation and to avail themselves of their support.

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Document 6

Source: Acts and Resolutions of South Carolina (1835)

3.      Resolved, That the legislature of South Carolina, having every confidence in the justice and friendship of the non-slaveholding states, . . . earnestly requests that the governments of these states will promptly and effectually suppress all those associations within their respective limits purporting to be abolition societies, and that they will make it highly penal to print, publish, and distribute newspapers, pamphlets, tracts and pictorial representations calculated and having an obvious tendency to excite the slaves of the southern states to insurrection and revolt.        7.      Resolved, That the legislature of South Carolina regards with decided approbation the measures of security adopted by the Post Office Department of the United States in relation to the transmission of incendiary tracts. But if this highly essential and protective policy be counteracted by Congress, and the United States mail becomes a vehicle for the transmission of the mischievous documents, . . . [we] expect that the Chief Magistrate of our state will forthwith call the legislature together, that timely measures may be taken to prevent [such mail] traversing our territory.

Document 7

Source: Jackson’s Farewell Address (March 4, 1837)

But when the charter for the Bank of the United States was obtained from Congress it perfected the schemes of the paper system and gave to its advocates the position they have struggled to obtain from the commencement of the Federal Government to the present hour. The immense capital and peculiar privileges bestowed upon it enabled it to exercise despotic sway over the other banks in every part of the country. From its superior strength it could seriously injure, if not destroy, the business of any one of them which might incur its resentment; and it openly claimed for itself the power of regulating the currency throughout the United States. In other words, it asserted (and it undoubtedly possessed) the power to make money plenty or scarce at its pleasure, at any time and in any quarter of the Union, by controlling the issues of other banks and permitting an expansion or compelling a general contraction of the circulating medium, according to its own will….the result of the ill-advised legislation which established this great monopoly was to concentrate the whole moneyed power of the Union, with its boundless means of corruption and its numerous dependents, under the direction and command of one acknowledged head, thus organizing this particular interest as one body and securing to it unity and concert of action throughout the United States, and enabling it to bring forward upon any occasion its entire and undivided strength to support or defeat any measure of the Government. In the hands of this formidable power, thus perfectly organized, was also placed unlimited dominion over the amount of the circulating medium, giving it the power to regulate the value of property and the fruits of labor in every quarter of the Union, and to bestow prosperity or bring ruin upon any city or section of the country as might best comport with its own interest or policy.

END OF DOCUMENTS FOR QUESTION 1

Scoring Guidelines

DBQ NotesPrompt: To what extent did the Jackson Administration and its actions represent a turning point in American Democracy?

SCORING NOTESThesis: Possible thesis statements could include the following.The Jacksonian era promoted the growing strength of presidency and brought a rise of power to the common man such as with the expansion of a new electorate to all white male adult citizens. Jackson’s attitudes toward states rights and the American people were a swift change from his predecessors and were the groundwork for the sectionalism to come in the next quarter century.Although the rise of Jackson marked a new turn in American politics, in which his democratic movement gave everyday citizens a new sense of independence, it was still criticized by the controversy of white superiority.The policies of Jackson’s administration shaped the beginning of modern American politics with expansionism and presidential significance.

Analysis of DocumentsAs explained in the scoring notes, to earn full credit for analyzing documents, responses must include at least one of the following for all or all but one of the documents: intended audience, purpose, historical context, author’s point of view.Although examples of these elements are listed below, these examples of analysis must explicitly be used in support of a stated thesis or a relevant argument.

Document 1:Source: Jackson presidential campaign poster (1828)

Intended audience: Campaigning towards the “Common Man”, war veterans, the working man, middle and lower class.

Purpose: to specifically attract the attention of the common man, the workers of America, in order to depict Andrew Jackson as a people person. The poster also wanted to attract the war veteran population portraying Jackson as a hero of war.

Historical context: After the popularity of Andrew Jackson in the war of 1812, the campaign poster wanted to use the popularity to Jackson’s advantage in the campaign. The poster also exploited Andrew Jackson as being a person of the common man, being from a middle, lower class family, and being raised the same as many working Americans.

The author’s point of view: The creator of the poster was completely bias towards making Andrew Jackson as appealing as possible, because his job was to do just that.

Document 2:Source: George Henry Evans. "The Working Men's Declaration of Independence." (December 1829)

Intended audience: the working class of American society, newspaper readers, and the general American public

Purpose: to openly criticize the government’s maltreatment of the working class and to declare reformation in order to have equal rights and representation for the working society

Historical context: the same year of the foundation of The Working Man’s Party in New York City and the Working Men movement of 1829, and almost a year after Jackson’s presidential election

The author’s point of view: written by a radical reformer and editor of radical newspapers, who strongly believed in the rights of the working class society and pushed for change in the government to attend to workers’ equality

Document 3:Source: Andrew Jackson's veto message (July 10, 1832)

Intended audience: US population, specifically congress Purpose: to explain why the national bank was detrimental to economy, to use his power to decide

whether or not the National Bank was necessary Historical context: extended charter for Second National Bank was proposed, Jackson took opportunity to

destroy bank The author’s point of view: created by Jackson himself, strongly opposed to National Bank

Document 4:Source: Democratic cartoon. Jackson destroying the National Bank with his “Order for Removal.” (1833)

Intended audience: the American reading public Purpose: to paint Jackson as a hero for destorying the corrupt bank Historical context: created after Jackson’s reelection The author’s point of view: likely created by a Democrat who supported Jackson

Document 5:Source: Alexis De Tocqueville, French writer and observer of Democracy;“Democracy in America”(1835)

Intended audience: French middle and high class society, people in France interested in western politics and Democracy.

Purpose: To inform his audience about the people of the United States being the ones in power in the Democratic government. The people hold the power because they have direct say in who their officials are, and that the people’s opinion and passion affect decisions made by officials greatly.

Historical context: the Jacksonian democracy put the opinion and ideals of the population at a great importance, trying to portray the belief of the common man. Jacksonians demanded elected (not appointed) judges and rewrote many state constitutions to reflect the new values.

The authors point of view: Tocqueville was a prominent believer of Democracy. He supported Cavaignac against Louis Napoleon Bonaparte for the presidential election of 1848. He always was a firm believer in political liberty, eventually giving up in French politics because he couldn't work for someone whom he considered usurper and despot.

Document 6:Source: Acts and Resolutions of South Carolina (1835)

Audience: directed to non-slave holding states and Congress Purpose: to request that non-slaveholding states suppress abolitionist association and make it illegal to

print or distribute information about abolition and to warn Congress that there will be consequences for not complying with their request

Historical context: the same year of Jacksons annual message to congress where he attacked abolitionists and their publications and a year before the gag rule was passed

The author’s point of view: stated by the Legislature of South Carolina who strongly opposed abolition

Document 7:Source: Jackson’s Farewell Address (March 4, 1837)

Intended Audience: American public, future political candidates Purpose: to warn future politicians about dangers of the Second National Bank, to explain how the bank

can use its power to cause many problems Historical Context: Jackson is no longer president, he feels the need to share his beliefs about the National

Bank The author’s point of view: created by Jackson himself, firm critic of national bank

Outside Info:Possible examples of information not found in the documents that could be used to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument could include the following.

The Market Revolution (starting after 1812) Federally financed internal improvements; infrastructure National bank created, “The Second Bank of the United States” (1816) Latin America winning independence from Spain The Creation of the Monroe Doctrine (1823) Spoils System to clear out elected officials in government of an opposing party The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the 36/30 line of latitude Creation of the Whig party against Jackson gaining too much power (1833) The Tariff of 1828 and the Tariff of 1838 The Force Act authorizing navy and army to collect taxes (1833) Indian Removal act of 1830 Jackson’s veto of bill to extend 2nd National Bank of America (1832) Jackson Issues Nullification Proclamation (1832) The Spoils system turning into inflation The Panic of 1837

Contextualization: Students can earn a point for contextualization by accurately and explicitly connecting historical phenomena relevant to the argument to broader historical events and/or processes. These historical phenomena may include,but are not limited to, the following.

End of America’s first two party system Expansion of voting rights Debates over federally funded internal improvements Beginning of new two party system - democrats, whigs Appeal to new “common man” - President nicknames Idea of “self-made” man Supporters for democratic party - middle to lower class Jackson portrayed as “King Andrew” Jackson’s battle with South Carolina Jackson’s veto of the Second National Bank charter - many other vetoes as well Creation of “pet banks” Jackson’s bank policy - economic collapse

Synthesis: Essays can earn the point for synthesis by crafting a persuasive and coherent essay. This can be accomplished providing a conclusion that extends or modifies the analysis in the essay, by using disparate and sometimes contradictory evidence from primary and/or secondary sources to craft a coherent argument, or by connecting to another historical period or context. Examples could include, but are not limited to, the following.

Linking the argument to Andrew Jackson’s influence on the modern democratic party and the two party system

Linking the argument to Andrew Jackson’s influence on presidential authority Linking the argument to Andrew Jackson’s emphasis on the protection of the common man Linking the argument to earlier views on individual liberties in comparison to Andrew Jackson’s

Jacksonian DBQ (Sample 7)

During the time of Andrew Jackson’s presidency from 1829 to 1837, he altered and re-defined many

aspects of American democracy. The four presidents preceding Jackson were advocates for states’ rights, while

Jackson was in favor of a stronger central government for the people. Jackson’s widening of democracy through

expanded suffrage was one major factor that contributed to the characterization of the “Age of Jackson” as a

turning point in American history. Also, Jackson’s campaign methods, supporters, and style in which he

governed made his presidency pivotal. Lastly, his financial decisions affected every man who took his place in

the presidential seat.

Jackson refined what American democracy means, primarily through the expansion of voting rights. For

instance, Alexis De Tocqueville, a French writer, articulated in his book, “Democracy in America,” that the

people of America elect their representatives directly, and therefore have their opinions, prejudices, interests,

and passions expressed (Doc 5). When De Tocqueville’s paper was published, Jackson was in the process of

expanding voting rights to all white males, and throughout his presidency, voting rose from 27 percent, to

almost 80 percent of all white males. Illustrating this white male dominance, the Acts and Resolutions of South

Carolina of 1835 called for the participation of free states in suppressing abolitionist movements, and banned

the United States mail of transporting “mischievous documents”(Doc 6). This distrust and unrest in South

Carolina was similar to the conflict caused by former V.P. John C. Calhoun’s theory of nullification, eventually

leading to Jackson’s signing of the Compromise of 1833 curbing the so called “tariff of abominations”. This

showed the public that Jackson was willing to compromise and work to better democracy in the eyes of the

people.

Jackson also redefined the presidential image and campaigning during his presidency. Jackson ran the

first real presidential campaign in the U.S., creating posters that portrayed him as a “man of the people,” and

“Old Hickory” (Doc 1). Jackson’s campaign also relied heavily on mudslinging against his opponent, John

Quincy Adams, in 1828, who allegedly abused federal money to make the White House more decadent. The

Working Man’s Party, in their “Declaration of Independence,” stated that it is the people’s responsibility to

reform the abuses of the government (Doc 2). Jackson’s biggest abuses of power, unlike those of the preceding

presidents, were through his use of the spoils system which rewarded supporters with federal jobs, and the

informal advice he received through his “kitchen cabinet,” a small group of advisors who were not always

federally employed. Jackson’s campaign and governing style represented a turning point from the aristocratic-

like presidents before him.

Jackson’s presidency also represented a drastic financial turning point in America through his vetoing of

Henry Clay’s proposal to renew the National Bank charter. His veto message of 1832 justifies his decision by

blaming the National Bank for the failure of most private banks in the country (Doc 3). Clay’s proposal and

Jackson’s veto were known as the “Bank War.” Jackson’s veto may have been biased due to his hatred of the

bank’s president, Nicholas Biddle. The cartoon “Order for Removal,” printed in 1833, depicts Jackson vetoing

the bank in front of the bank officials portrayed as devils (Doc 4). Clearly biased in Jackson’s favor, the cartoon

shows his heroic decision and the defeat of the evil, money-laundering Nicholas Biddle. In his Farewell

Address, Jackson remarked on the National Bank, stating that the bank’s power to regulate all financial matters

was far too great to be concentrated in one institution (Doc 7). As he left office, Jackson felt the need to re-

stress his warning against the bank, and its overwhelming power. Due to these justifications, Jackson’s

destruction of the National Bank represented a pivotal change in American economics.

Andrew Jackson’s presidency was undoubtedly a turning point in American democracy. His influence

on people’s views about the value of the “common man” defined the campaigning of most presidential

candidates post 1840. Abraham Lincoln is a perfect example of a candidate who won the presidential race

through appealing to the common people. Elected in 1860, he won support of the common people through his

debates with senator Douglass a few years earlier, just as Jackson had won through his identification with the

American people. Jackson’s values and techniques characterized democracy in America for decades to come.