The Concept of Jacksonian Democracy: New York as a Test Case

by Lee Benson

Book Overview

Jacksonian Democracy has become almost a commonplace in American history. But in this penetrating analysis of one state-its voting cycles, party makeup, and social, ethnic, and religious patterns-Lee Benson shows that the concept bears little or no relation to New York history during the Jacksonian period. New York voters between 1816 and 1844 did not follow the traditional distinctions between Whigs and Democrats. Ethnic and religious ties were stronger...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691005729
• ISBN13: 9780691005720
• Release Date: October 1970
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Statistics at work

This is something of an odd history. President Jackson supporters are variously referred to as "Democrats" and "Republicans". At times it seemed as if Aaron Burr was on his side and at times against him. My knowledge of history is not sufficient to understand all of these nuances. This is a book for educated folks, those who have studied the post-colonial, pre-civil war era. I read it through because of my faith in my ability to garner some facts from it (some other book may build upon what I have learned from this book) and it became interesting when he broke down the voting polls of the elections surveyed, 1825 through 1840 or so. These breakdowns showed the fallacies of our prejudices of historical persons and events can be seen in statistics, if we define and collect the relevant statistic. The author is referred to as a 'revisionist historian' and this book is one part of what he was trying to revise - Jackson, the populist candidate, was supported by all parts of the population and some of his policies were not populist at all, id est, the New York banking system.