Expanding DEMOCRACY [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 7] Period 4: 1800-1848 (Re-Upload)

Expanding DEMOCRACY [APUSH Review Unit 4 Topic 7] Period 4: 1800-1848 (Re-Upload)

Expansion of Participatory Democracy (1800-1848)

Causes of Democratic Expansion

  • During the early 19th century, small farmers, working men, and frontier settlers began demanding the right to vote, known as the franchise.
  • The Panic of 1819 led to economic turmoil; irresponsible banking practices and decreased demand for exports caused widespread unemployment and bankruptcies.
  • Many individuals unable to pay debts faced imprisonment. This situation fueled a desire among laboring men, particularly in the West, for political accountability.
  • Historically, voting rights were tied to property ownership; however, several frontier states had already established universal white male suffrage independent of land ownership.
  • By 1825, most eastern states followed suit by lowering or eliminating property qualifications for voting, leading to increased political participation.

Political Realignment

  • The Federalist Party was declining due to its opposition to the War of 1812. The Democratic-Republicans became the sole national party but began fragmenting into factions.
  • Two main factions emerged: Democrats (favoring expansive federal power and loose constructionism of the Constitution) and National Republicans (advocating limited federal power and strict constructionism).

Election of 1824

  • The election featured four candidates: John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford, and Andrew Jackson. Jackson won the popular vote but not a majority in the Electoral College.
  • Due to no candidate achieving a majority in electoral votes, the House of Representatives selected Adams as president after Clay supported him.
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GET FOLLOW-ALONG NOTEGUIDES for this video: https://bit.ly/3NUwwmj AP HEIMLER REVIEW GUIDE (formerly known as the Ultimate Review Packet): +APUSH Heimler Review Guide: https://bit.ly/44p4pRL +AP Essay CRAM Course (DBQ, LEQ, SAQ Help): https://bit.ly/3XuwaWN +Bundle Heimler Review Guide and Essay CRAM Course: https://bit.ly/46tjbZo HEIMLER’S HISTORY MERCH! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_bOoi0e3L3SJ1xx5TZWHPw/store Instagram: @heimlers_history For more videos on APUSH Unit 4, check out the playlist: https://bit.ly/36YwqoQ In this video Heimler takes you through Unit 4 Topic 7 of the AP U.S. History curriculum which is set in period 4 (1800-1848). From 1800-1848, participation in the democratic processes in the United States expanded significantly. Several western states had already established universal male suffrage unconnected to property ownership, and as a result of the Panic of 1837, unpropertied men of the east wanted their share of the franchise as well. This expansion of democracy also led to the growth and realignment of American political parties. With the Federalists basically defunct, two major factions broke out within the Democratic Republican party: the Democrats and the National Republicans. Each faction would later harden into proper political parties. This division in the party led to a mess in the presidential election of 1824 in which the Democratic Republicans offered up no less than four candidates for the race. John Quincy Adams won the election, which was decided by the House of Representatives, but Andrew Jackson (who won more popular and electoral votes) accused Adams of proffering a corrupt bargain in order to win the election. If you have any questions, leave them below and Heimler shall answer forthwithly. This video is aligned with the AP U.S. History Curriculum and Exam Description for Unit 4 Topic 7, and all the key concepts thereunto appertaining.