1820-1840 was the turning point in the American political history. This period precisely saw America moving towards political independence with the emergency of two party systems. Appearance of the two party systems within the political echelons of this nation can be attributed to the influence of major political personalities as well as questions relating to the rights of individual states. Personalities such as John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay’s influence on the people as well as the government, led to the two party systems with distinctive views on some matters of concern both to the national government and the people as its subjects. It is crucial to note that, with no presidential candidate have garnered popular majority vote in the 1824 elections, John Quincy Adams proclamation as the president, led the democratic republicans to form the Republican Party.
What happened is that with no candidate having attained the majority vote, the House of Representation voted to determine the president, in which event, Adams was voted in. Prior to these elections all candidates were and held themselves as republicans, however after the elections they split forming Democratic Republicans which was behind Andrew Jackson and National Republicans supporting Adams.
Come 1828, presidential elections in the country were based on personal images of the candidates. To many, Jackson was a symbol of common man drawing support from the west and poor farmers. His childhood life and subsequent adulthood army toughness made many supporters from the west since Indians were viewed to be a threat to the security of the west.
Adam on the other hand drew his support from businessmen and the influential population due to his aristocratic and high and mighty qualities. People felt that it was easy to relate to Jackson upon being elected as the president since he was a commoner, a factor that led him to triumph in the elections. After the elections his supporters began to call themselves the Democratic Party with the Democratic Republicans switching to National Republicans. During his first term as the president the country’s economy dwindled earning him many opponents. This led to National Republicans combining force with the Whig Party to field their favorite nominee Henry Clay against him in the 1832 elections. However, all the same Jackson won. Personality of William Henry Harrison made him win the 1840 elections as he was merchandised as commoner by his Whigs Party. This attribute coupled with the prevailing economic circumstances were focal in Harrison’s success.
Two party system was also fosters by the economic issues as mentioned elsewhere. For instance the issue of the Bank of the United States drew sharp controversies among President Jackson and Henry Clay in 1832, leading to the creation of the aforementioned Whig Party. Jackson terming the Bank America as being a monopoly meant to benefit the rich, had vetoed Clay’s proposal to have the Bank’s charter renewed. Creation of Whig party was meant to oppose Jackson policy. Therefore, had Jackson re-chartered the Bank there would have been no Whig Party.
The issue of state rights had an impact on the political dimensions in as far as two party systems were concerned. Jackson proposal that the government distribute the surplus among the federal upon paying the federal debts was not well received by the westerners. Hence the westerners sought to form an alliance with the southerners. This situation was saved by the intervention of Daniel Webster who clarified that state right questions were equivalent to treason. This incident by and large promulgated division of political ideas culminating into separation of political parties.
Before this period extending from earl 1820s to late 18402 voting was rights were borne by propertied white adult males with most states imposing property and taxpaying requirements. Thus poor people were not allowed to vote prior to the Jacksonian epoch. Those who could elect the president had to be chosen via state legislatures. However with the revolution of the American politics, most states repealed rules that required property qualifications for voting.
As a result of this by states adult white males could now vote upon paying tax or having served in the militia. Five years later these requirements of taxpaying and militia qualifications were downplayed consequently establishing universal white manhood suffrage. It is imperative to acknowledge that as the nation advanced towards white manhood suffrage African Americans as well as women were not allowed to vote. However in New Jersey women could vote so long as they owned property. A power that the state rescinded as it advanced in line the requirement of universal white manhood suffrage.