Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Jacksonian Democracy--JM Group
How would you describe Ryan’s attitude toward Jackson and the expansion of democracy during the 1830s and 1840s? Do you think that she overstates or understates the expansion of democracy, or do you think that she has struck a nice balance in her assessment of this era? (Use examples from the essay to support your answer)
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Ryan seems to have a positive view of the expansion of democracy during the antebellum period, although she doesn't seem to express a clear view on Jackson himself. She states that democracy became very public during this period, and believes it to be an improvement. Ryan also maintains that it was the participation of the people that was the main factor behind the expansion of democracy. She points out that "neither the institution of representative government nor the creation of two parties was sufficient to create what the Loco-Focos would call pure democracy". However, what she does not touch on, is whether the representative government heeded these fervent expressions of public opinion, and from what I read in the summer homework, it seems as if Jackson was more interested in his own interests and opinions than those of the people as a whole.
ReplyDeleteRyan has struck a balance in her assessment of the expansion of democracy during the antebellum period, as she recognizes the progress democracy and equal rights made, without neglecting to mention the shortcomings and contradictions of the time. The franchise was definitely expanded, and religious, economic and ethnic barriers were broken. At the same time, racial and gender barriers remained immovable. Democracy lost its "sedate and constricted" form, and the people, all white males regardless of station, began to boisterously and publicly express their opinions. Her point that the conversion of "harmony into opposition", which stemmed from public meetings, was significant in forming pure democracy is a very relevant one. In order to maintain true democracy, a party always needs opposition, and in that way a system of checks & balances is formed. She notes that the formation of the Whig Party was "the final solidification of a democracy of difference", and the two opposing parties showcased their disagreements in an open and public fashion. Ryan also states that the rioting during the period "was not so much a breakdown of democratic process as its conduct by another means". She maintains that the disorderly conduct was not in fact a disintegration of the ideals of democracy, but yet another way for public will to be heard. In this way, I think she effectively that the expansion of democracy during the antebellum period was significant, and can be seen in places you would not normally expect.
Mary Ryan displays a positive attitude towards the expansion of democracy during the 1830's and 40's. Ryan acknowledges the fact that democracy began to apply to more people in the 30's and 40's; however, she points out the fact that the political world consisted only of white men. "With his (exclusively male) franchise, the citizen became an actual participant in self-government." Ryan emphasizes how the Jacksonian Era brought the ordinary citizen into the political sphere, and began a movement that ultimately opened the political world to all U.S. citizens. Ryan also explains how political use of urban public spaces helped to involve the ordinary citizen in politics. "These partisan public events were a direct exercise of political citizenship and brought into play the doctrine of popular sovereignty" Although Ryan recognizes the benefit of an expanding politically involved population, she refrains from overstating the expansion of democracy by pointing out the large percentage of the U.S. population that was kept away from politics.
ReplyDeleteRyan’s attitude about Jackson and the expansion of democracy in the 1830s and 1840s is one that reveals the irony the movement, putting more emphasis on the “rhetoric,” showcasing of public meetings, and “election riots,” used to propagate the ideals than any actual changes being achieved, and how although equality was the main ideal, it was not meant for everyone. Not to discard the significance of the public character (or spectacles as they appeared to be), Ryan does say, “The election ‘riots’ condensed and gave a sometimes violent physical dimension to the conflict that was intrinsic to the popular democracy.” They acted as a new form of public meetings to present new ideas. However, she points out the violence and disorder of the riots, saying, “civic wars were a fixture of antebellum democracy,” meaning it was ever-present, but still only a “fixture.”
ReplyDeleteAs for equality, Ryan points out that the “notion of equal rights was the cutting edge (hardly the culmination) of the movement,” but in the next paragraph, explains how women and non-whites were not included in their kind of “equality”. The antebellum society was a “pristinely white and decisively male universe.” However, Ryan’s attitude is not truly negative, because she writes, “The passage from deferential republicanism to “pure democracy” was gradual but ultimately decisive,” meaning the process of expanding democracy was slow, but sure.
Although Ryan expresses no clear opinion regarding President Jackson himself, she certainly maintains a positive opinion concerning the expansion of democracy in the 1830's and 1840's. The major area of change in universal American politics in the Jacksonian era was the vastly increased publicity of politics, with even some, larger, public meetings breaking out into riots. While mentioning a huge-scale democratic meeting appropriately termed the, "Great Meeting of the People-Triumphant expression of Public Opinions", Ryan states that the meeting, "illustrates the forward momentum of popular politics. Furthermore, Ryan seems to praise the beginnings of non-whites having a political influence, stating, "this small group of enfranchised citizens pushed the democratic possibilities to the maximum."
ReplyDeleteRyan definitely strikes a solid balance in her assessment of the expansion of popular politics and, accordingly, democracy, in the Antebellum era. While clearly mentioning the many restrictions still held over non-whites and women, stating, "Some barriers to be counted among the people were left in tact, even fortified in the age of jackson...(the age) was a pristinely white and male universe", Ryan does not neglect the many forward progresses for many others, saying, "the ranks of the "people who counted" were expanded significantly". Ryan, in commenting upon the entire spectrum of improvements and faults of the age, maintains a realistic and believable image of the era.
Ryan's attitude towards Jackson and the spread of democracy is positive. Although she does not mention Jackson himself much, she traces this spread of democracy to the rise of mass public meetings in which the common man discussed local and national politics in a casual atmosphere. These meetings contrasted the previous political meeting style of aristocratic elitist types that led politics for most of American history in the pre-Jacksonian era. She thinks favorably of this change, seeing that it marks the shift from elitist politics to mass politics. Ryan slightly overstates these meetings' significance; surely not every white man in America was a participant, but increased participation was definite. She states that "it was through the circuit of the public meetings, furthermore, that the spirit of democracy was thrust into the annals of the American political tradition." This statement is mostly accurate: the fact that Jackson himself was a countryman from Tennessee, for instance, could have inspired his fellow westerners to seek more of an active role in politics. Furthermore, as more states abolished their laws stating that men had to be landowners in order to vote, the common non-property-owning man naturally would become involved in politics, gathering together in groups with their friends and neighbors to discuss this new realm of politics. Ryan also emphasizes the fact that while the common white man enjoyed an increased participation in politics, political rights for nonwhites and women remained nonexistent. In her article, Ryan strikes a balance, describing the Jacksonian era and the spread of democracy in a positive and informative light.
ReplyDeleteMs. Ryan is very pleased with the increased popularity in voting, and increased awareness in politics. However, she did not like the emergence of political parties. She said it placed the opponents into a "civil war" (259). She was proud that the government developed into a place where all white men were accepted. (260) She was disappointed in the split of the country into two parties. She taught the government and elections would be smoother if everyone went off of their own opinions
ReplyDeleteMary Ryan’s words on the expansion of democracy during the 1830s and 1840s undoubtedly convey a positive view. She celebrates the newly found vigor and popularity of political activism with her various accounts of political “riots” and the numerous expansions of voting rights. While she is not as clear with regards to her thoughts about Jackson himself, we can gleam them by analyzing her thoughts on the Loco-Foco movement who besides having the most awesome name ever, represented “the radical democratic politics… of the Jacksonian movement”. She appreciated that the Democrat public meetings showed “the power of the people when they declare their will.” I believe that she provides a balanced view in her assessment in the era. While she mentions that people believed that in the new political culture that “everyone will have the opportunity to express his whishes”, she also mentioned that “some barriers being counted among the people were left intact, and others were even fortified during the age of Jackson.” Ryan presents a positive view of the Jacksons and the new political culture while maintaining a good balance by showing the many barriers still existed back then and democratic participation was far from a universal right.
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