Democracy Ideologies of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson (1824)

Both Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson contributed their views of significant importance to the United Stated Democracy. They can be compared with similarities and differences, as these two men would be the forefront of the development in the beginning of a strong Nation and an insurmountable democracy. For subjects such as politics, education, and economics, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson shared contrasting and similar point of views.

Jefferson and Jackson can be compared by their similar and contrasting views in politics. Jefferson believed that eligibility for people of office should be among egalitarian citizens, thereby who are not of high social status or property owners. Rather, a person who is charismatic, talented, and honest should be considered in office or among leadership. Similarly, Jackson, “a man of the people”, also felt that the egalitarian point of view among citizens of the United States empowered a democracy. Instead of being a hardened, incompassionate leader without regard for the opinions of the American people, a governing leader should be personable, accepting of the views of the American people whereby a democracy can be strengthened. Therefore, Jackson and Jefferson were primarily about the people and pushing for equality within everything that inspired them. It is unfortunate that Andrew Jackson didn’t see the equality in Native American people, mostly the Cherokee Tribe, as he would order all of them out of the last of their eastern lands, east of the Mississippi River, along what is known today as the “Trail of Tears,” where thousands of Cherokee Indians would die trying to migrate west. Furthermore, Jefferson and Jackson viewed the election process with similar views. They had experienced being elected president in different ways. In Jefferson’s time the majority of votes awarded the appointment of the president and thereby followed the vice president with the remainder of votes. Contrasting this election process was Jackson enduring an Electoral College mishap, whereas he was not elected president after earning a majority of their popular votes in 1824. He was elected president, however, in 1828 the next time around, but still called for the abolishment of the Electoral College (Rogers). Summarizing Jackson and Jefferson’s election processes were different, though they are compared by both sharing the same views.

Furthermore, Jefferson and Jackson shared contrasting educational views. Jefferson believed that an educated nation could govern itself and therefore passed the “The Bill of Education” to help the less wealthy person, or poor, to procure an education. He felt that elementary school was as important, if not more important, as college level education. However, Jackson felt that public education made religious freedom inferior and also took away from individual freedom that interferes with parental guidance and instruction. Therefore, both Jefferson and Jackson shared contrasting views on education.

Finally, Jackson and Jefferson shared similar views economically. On opposing a United States Bank that stood in opposition of state banks, Jackson was in favor of state banks and had won a bank war that enabled him to draw out money from the federal stand point and insert these funds into state banks. Jefferson had the same view as he encouraged state banks. Thus, both Jefferson and Jackson share the same views in opposing a national bank while encouraging all state banks.

In conclusion, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson played significant roles in contributing to the foundation of a strong United States Democracy. They shared similar views economically in having state wide banks while opposing a national bank. Politically they shared similar views, and had contrasting educational views. Without either of these two founding fathers contributing to our democracy, our ability to be educated without having the financial capability to do so would not be possible. We are free and every man is equal and in the pursuit of happiness in partly due of the inspiration of both Thomas Jefferson & Andrew Jackson

Works Cited
Rogers, Helen. The Election Process. n.d. 31 03 2011 . Ramey, Michael. (Lecture 23)