Question

1) How did the expansion of white male democracy run counter to the ideals of the founders, who believed the government should be sheltered from excessive influence by ordinary people? 2) How do you think they would have responded to the nativism of the 19th century (1800s)? What about women's ability to work and the early labor movement?

Answer 1

Ans 1.

Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, laid stressed on the participation of the common man in democracy, contrary to the belief of the founders who wanted to protect the government from the influence of ordinary people. Jacksonian democracy was a movement led by Jackson that promoted greater rights for the common man in the election process.

The central policy was the expansion of suffrage (voting rights) to all white men in America. Jackson was against aristocratic influence on politics and believed that the participation of the common man was the key to successful democracy. He believed concentrating power in the hands of the elite classes would further enrich them and give them unwarranted control over the population. Emphasis was laid on white male equality that would empower the common man to make choices independently and lead a life according to his wants and expectations.

Ans 2.

Nativism aims to protect the interests of native inhabitants of a country. The idea rests on the apprehension that new immigrants disrupt the traditional values prevailing in a country and so framing policies in favour of the natives becomes necessary.

In the 19th century, anti-immigration ideologues lamented the influx of Germans and Poles, Irish and Italians as fatally compromising the American project. Immigrants were considered belonging to ruined, impoverished backgrounds with nothing much to offer to America. ( Source: Article on www.hindustantimes.com - Nativists tendencies are pulling down the United States)

By passing restrictive immigration legislation, the founders would have curbed the influx of migrants, considering their presence demeaning to America. Also, the religious aspect surrounding immigration, would have prompted them to promote American ideologies vigorously.

Ans 3.

The founding father's didn't expressly deny women voting rights while drafting the Constitution, it was rather clear by implication. Women's rights were not only non-existent, but any efforts to give them priority were put down. Men were considered to be the sole owner of their households for they were the ones who were given the liberty to earn a livelihood.

Labor movement stemmed from the need to protect the rights of workers. The working conditions in factories prompted workers to unite and fight collectively for their rights.

As the founding fathers had strong views on protecting the government from common people, they would surely have contempted such movements as prioritising the needs of common people wasn't part of their agenda. Also, the exclusion of women's rights from the Constitution is indicative of their lack of concern for women and so the growth of women's rights coundnt have captured their attention or interest. Thus, equalizing the rights of women would still have been a struggle.