Читать книгу Anglo-American Cultural Studies - Jody Skinner - Страница 45

Jacksonian DemocracyJacksonian DemocracyWhile the young nation was beginning to expand across the North American continent, other movements indicated expansion of another kind. Andrew JacksonJackson, Andrew was the first presidentpresident to have come from humble rootsroots in the backwoods of the Carolinas. Jacksonian DemocracyJacksonian Democracy is a term used to summarize the changes that took place during his two administrations. He came to be associated with the spoils system, rewarding loyal party members with government positions, and is seen as the maker of the modern presidency. Although Jackson was popular as a president of the people, his enemies called him King AndrewKing Andrew I for his autocratic style. He was also a famous military officer in the War of 1812War of 1812 and played a critical role in driving the Indians westwards ( 7). In addition to the political reforms of Jacksonian democracy, the seeds for future reforms were being sown in other areas too.

Seneca Falls ConventionSeneca Falls ConventionOne important meeting which raised issues that would be relevant for women for the next hundred years and more took place at a WesleyanWesleyan Church chapel ( 8) in a small town with the idyllic name Seneca Falls in upper New YorkNew York State. The Seneca Falls ConventionSeneca Falls Convention took place in a year that most Europeans would connect with revolution: 1848, and one result of the Convention was the Declaration of SentimentsDeclaration of Sentiments, which sought to have the same effect [41]as the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence and which echoed the famous line “all men are created equal” with an important addition: “all men and women are created equal” ( 14). While the founding mothers of feminismfeminism didn’t live to see women gain the right to vote, which came more than seventy years after the Seneca Falls Convention, one woman who did live to see some of her attempts succeed was Dorothea DixDix, Dorothea, who became famous for her attempts to improve conditions in prisons, hospitals, and insane asylums.

Fig. 2.4

Dorothea DixDix, Dorothea postage stamp

But all the reformers weren’t only women, there was a man too, whose name conveniently enough was Mann, Horace MannMann, Horace, the first very important reformer of the American school system, who believed in equal and free education for all children ( 4). Mann wasn’t only an important reformer in education, he was also an ardent supporter of women’s rights and the abolition of slavery but died before the abolitionistabolitionist movement really became an important force.

The 19^th century wasn’t only a century in which the US expanded across the continent with reforms taking place in many areas of life, it was also the century in which the bloodiest of all American wars was fought on two issues – the right to secede from the union and the right to own slaves. These issues threatened to tear apart the United States before the country could even celebrate the first full century of its existence.