Jacksonian Democray

Andrew Jackson's victory over John Quincy Adams in the election of 1828 represented for many a victory for the "common man" over the Northeastern "aristocracy." In this lesson, you will read two documents from right around the time of Jackson's inauguration.

An Eyewittness Account of Jackson's Inauguration

Read the document, then answer the following questions in your notebook using complete sentences.

1. What does Smith mean when she describes the "thousands and thousands of people" at the inauguration as being "without distinction of rank"?

2. How does she describe the crowd and its behavior while waiting for Jackson to appear and take the oath of office?

3. Go to the paragraph that begins with "At the moment the General entered the Portico..." What happend when Jackson had finished his inaugural speech?

4. How does Smith describe the scene outside the President's house immediately after the inauguration?

5. Smith returns from the President's house, the returns later. Why does she say then that "The Majesty of the People had disappeared"?

6. Describe in your own words the scene she witnessed.

7. Smith laments (feels grief or sorrow) what happened at the President's house, but says that "it was the People's day, and the People's President and the People would rule." What does she mean by this?

8. Is she optimistic or pessimistic about "the People" getting "the Power in thier hands"? Use evidence from the document to support your answer.

Daniel Webster Anticipates Jackson's arrival in Washington, D.C., 1829

Read the document, then answer the following questions using complete sentences in your notebook.

9. Describe Webster's tone in this letter. Does he seem happy or unhappy about having Jackson as president?

10. What does Webster mean when he says "My opinion is, that when he comes he will bring a breeze with him. Which way it will blow I cannot tell"?

11. What does Webster fear Jackson will do?

12. How does Webster hoope Jackson will act instead?

13. What do you think "upper class" people like Smith and Webster feared most about Jackon becoming president?