logo

75 pages 2 hours read

Eric Foner

Give Me Liberty!: Volume 1

Nonfiction | Reference/Text Book | YA | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter 10Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 10 Summary and Analysis: “Democracy in America1815–1840”

The authors point to Andrew Jackson’s inauguration on March 4, 1829, as marking a significant shift in American politics, symbolizing the rise of the “common man” and reflecting the era’s democratic ideals. Jackson’s presidency, known as the Age of Jackson or Jacksonian Democracy, is notable for embodying key developments of the time, including the market revolution, westward expansion, the expulsion of Indigenous peoples, the growth of enslavement, and the democratization of American political life. Jackson himself, rising from humble beginnings on the South Carolina frontier and achieving prominence through military and political roles, became a symbol of political democracy and the possibilities it offered.

His inauguration drew an unprecedented crowd of 20,000, causing notable chaos at the White House, which some critics, like Justice Joseph Story, decried as “the reign of King Mob” (799). Jackson’s popularity was undeniable, with figures like New York’s Philip Hone acknowledging his widespread appeal despite personally favoring Jackson’s rival, John Quincy Adams. However, Jackson also faced significant opposition, with critics labeling him a tyrant and dubbing him “King Andrew I” (799). This divide led his opponents to form the Whig Party, aligning themselves with historical opposition to royal power.

Jackson’s tenure, the authors argue, also symbolized the United States’ complex relationship with democracy, which has long been a central aspect of national identity and the broader American conception of freedom.

The Triumph of Democracy

The early 19th century marked significant democratic advancements, notably the elimination of property qualifications for voting, a change spurred by the American Revolution and culminating in the 1830s. Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America explored this democratization, which was reflected in broadened participation. This shift presented democracy as a cultural ethos rather than merely a political system, with the authors presenting it as a notable moment in The Evolving Concept of American Freedom.

Despite these expansions, significant exclusions persisted. The authors continue to foreground how racial and gender disparities continued to define the boundaries of political participation, highlighting the complex interplay of democracy and social hierarchies in America and underscoring The Impact of Social Movements and Political Conflicts on Liberty.

Nationalism and Its Discontents

After the War of 1812, a surge in nationalism and the realization of infrastructural inadequacies led to the proposal of the American System, which aimed to fortify national unity through internal improvements and protective tariffs. However, the authors note that economic strategies, like the establishment of the Second Bank of the United States and the Panic of 1819, underscored the volatility of the young nation’s financial system.

Simultaneously, the Missouri Compromise of 1820 exposed sectional divides, forewarning of the persistent national conflict over enslavement, revealing again how deeply The Significance of Diverse Groups in America influenced the nation’s trajectory.

Nation, Section, and Party

The early 19th century witnessed the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, paralleled by internal political transformations that intensified sectionalism, as seen in the contentious election of 1824. The authors argue that John Quincy Adams’s subsequent presidency underscored a period of pronounced nationalism, advocating strong federal governance to support economic and infrastructural development and setting the stage for future conflicts over the balance between national and state powers.

The Age of Jackson

Jackson’s presidency, the authors contend, was characterized by a strong advocacy for the “common man” and an opposition to institutional power, as seen in his battle against the Bank of the United States. The authors use his tenure to explore their overarching argument about the paradox of American notions of freedom, particularly here of Jackson’s democratic support, which excluded Indigenous peoples and African Americans from his vision of democracy. The era was marked by intense political engagement and the rise of a robust party system, setting precedents for modern American politics.

Indian Removal

Jackson’s administration aggressively pursued “Indian Removal,” leading to the displacement and suffering of thousands of Indigenous peoples, notably through the infamous Trail of Tears. This policy was starkly at odds with the ideals of American freedom and democracy, revealing the deep-seated racial prejudices that influenced federal policy and highlighting a grave chapter in The Evolving Concept of American Freedom where the government directly contravened, on a massive scale, the liberty and sovereignty of Indigenous populations.

The Bank War and After

Jackson’s conflict with the Bank of the United States culminated in its dissolution, a move that shifted federal funds to “pet banks” and destabilized the national currency system, contributing to the Panic of 1837. This financial catastrophe marked the beginning of an economic depression, influencing subsequent federal financial policies, including the establishment of the Independent Treasury system under Martin Van Buren’s administration, which further isolated the federal government from the nation’s banking systems.

The authors use this series of events to argue that political conflicts and the definition of liberty are inextricably connected, as economic and political power dynamics shifted dramatically, reshaping American financial and political landscapes.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text