In the Jacksonian era, the United States saw a contradiction between rapidly expanding democracy (the power of the “common man”) and a brutal crackdown on Native Americans. At the same time, there was a fundamental clash between federal power and states’ rights. Write an essay that traces these major issues in the Jacksonian era. Your thesis statement (argument) must address the following central question: Were Jackson’s actions as president consistent with his belief in a limited government and the power of the “common man”? How did politics change by the 1840s? You must use the following key terms: (1) Andrew Jackson / Democratic Party; (2) Indian Removal Act / Trail of Tears; (3) Tariff of Abominations / Doctrine of Nullification / Second Bank of the United States; and (4) Whig Party / John Tyler.
