Some Aspects of Whig Thought and Theory in the Jacksonian Period
1958; Oxford University Press; Volume: 63; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/1849546
ISSN1937-5239
Autores Tópico(s)Mormonism, Religion, and History
ResumoDURING the last one hundred years, considerable number of historians and biographers have attempted to assay the character of Jacksonian democracy. The results have been series of conflicting interpretations. Some have seen the movement simply as the rising of the masses against aristocratic rule.' Others have depicted it as glowing tribute to Jackson himself.2 To Frederick Jackson Turner, Jacksonian democracy represented the essence of the frontier spirit.' Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., while regarding Western debtor elements as important in the formation of Jacksonian democracy, puts his chief emphasis on the working class elements congregated in the Eastern cities and portrays the Democratic party as political organization imbued with the belief that there was a deep-rooted conflict in society between the 'producing' and 'non-producing' classes-the farmers and laborers on the one hand, and the business community on the other.' Joseph Dorfman, on the other hand, regards Jacksonian democracy as movement devoted to preserving laissez faire society and, therefore, opposing high tariffs, corporations, and monopolies. It was, says Dorfman, essentially middle class, free trade, reform movement.' Bray Hammond and Richard Hofstadter maintain that the most dynamic element in Jacksonian democracy was its rising business element, avid
Referência(s)