Summary and Review

The rise of American democracy between 1820 and 1840 marked a shift from elite rule to majority rule, characterized by Andrew Jackson's presidency. Political participation expanded for white men, while women, free blacks, and Native Americans remained disenfranchised. The election of 1824 highlighted the tensions between popular will and elite influence, culminating in Jackson's victory in 1828. Key issues included the Tariff of 1828, which sparked the Nullification Crisis, and the contentious Bank War, where Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States. The Indian Removal Act led to the forced displacement of Native American tribes, exemplifying the era's racial prejudices and the consequences of majority opinion.