History, U.S. History to 1877
Year 4
TENNESSEE HISTORY
Hi,
Let's take a closer look, with the emphasis on Tennessee history.
However, notice that the second question is asking about the National Infrastructure, so you need to include information about the Democratic views of Jackson at the National level, which are the same within Tennessee.
1. WHAT THREE BASIC BELIEFS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TENNESSEE DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD?
2. HOW DID JACKSON'S ACTIONS CONCERNING THE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE REFLECT THESE VIEWS?

PLEASE USE NARRATIVE FORMAT. EMPHASIS IS TO BE ON TENNESSEE HISTORY.
No files attached.
Bid Credits: 8 Deadline: November 9, 2006, 9:01 am

1. WHAT THREE BASIC BELIEFS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN TENNESSEE DURING THE ANTEBELLUM PERIOD?
Tennessee politics:
Consisting of President Andrew Jackson and his circle of advisors, the Jacksonians were recognized as leaders of the Democratic Party both nationally and within Tennessee. (1). Thus, the basic beliefs of the Democratic Party were also the same both nationally and within Tennessee.
Indeed, Jackson's interest in public affairs and in politics had always been keen. He had gone to Nashville as a political appointee, and in 1796 he became a member of the convention that drafted a constitution for the new state of Tennessee. In the same year he was elected as the first representative from Tennessee to the U.S. House of Representatives. (2) Thus, the Democratic Party in Tennessee during the ANTEBELLUM PERIOD is sometimes referred to the Jacksonian democracy, which was built on several beliefs, which the following three seem to be the most quoted:

1. Patronage
Also known as the spoils system, patronage was the policy of placing political supporters into appointed offices. Many Jacksonians held the view that patronage was not only the right, but also the duty of winners in political contests. Patronage was theorized to be good because it would encourage political participation by the common man and because it would make a politician more accountable for poor government service by his appointees. Jacksonians also held that long tenure in the civil service was corrupting, so civil servants should be rotated out of office at regular intervals.

2. Strict construction of the Constitution
Like the Democratic-Republicans who strongly believed in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, Jacksonians initially favored a federal government of limited powers. Jackson said that he would guard against "all encroachments upon the legitimate sphere of State sovereignty". This is not to say that Jackson was a states' rights extremist; indeed, the Nullification Crisis would find Jackson fighting against what he perceived as state encroachments on the proper sphere of federal influence. This position was one basis for the Jacksonians' opposition to the Second National Bank. As the Jacksonians consolidated power, they more often advocated a more expansive construction of the Constitution and of Presidential power.

3. Laissez-faire economics
Complementing a strict construction of the Constitution, the Jacksonians generally favored a hands-off approach to the economy. Jackson believed that when the government took a stronger role in the economy, it made it easier for favored groups to win special privileges, which was anathema to a nation run by, and for, the common man. In particular, the Jacksonians opposed banks, especially the national bank, known as the Second Bank of the United States. (3)

Also http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=J010

2. HOW DID JACKSON'S ACTIONS CONCERNING THE BANK OF THE UNITED STATES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE REFLECT THESE VIEWS?

This question is asking about the Notional Infrastructure, so it needs to include National improvements (not only Tennessee history). It is important to remember, as mentioned above, though, the changes made at the national level, also impacted Tennessee at the state level.

Jackson's opposition to banks, especially the national bank (Laissez-faire economics) was evidenced when he re-chartered the Bank of the United States, which reflected two Democratic beliefs: the strict construction of the Constitution and the hands off approach to the economy. It was also evidenced when Jackson continued to use the veto and took unprecedented actions to lessen government control over the economy. In 1833, without congressional approval, for example, he ordered federal deposits removed from the Bank of the United States and placed in state banks (impacted Tennessee), forcing the resignation of the cabinet officer who refused his directive. To add to this, in 1836 he also issued the Specie Circular, which required the payment of government debts in hard money. These changes are clearly rooted in a basic mistrust of banks (Laissez-faire economics). (1)

Jackson's improvements to the National infrastructure also reflected the above Democratic views (spoils system). For example, Jackson initiated a series of removals and appointments that his opponents denounced as the spoils system (Democratic belief). Jackson also defended the practice as a restoration of honesty and integrity and the destruction of entrenched privilege (i.e., spoils system). Also, cabinet squabbles erupted during Jackson's first term that ended in a reconstitution of the cabinet. Jackson departed from practice by rejecting Adams's cabinet in his attempt to improve the National infrastructure. (1)

Thus, the Democrats in Tennessee during the ANTEBELLUM PERIOD opposed legislation that would expand the state's banking capital, allow the state's banks to suspend specie payments during hard times, increase the availability of paper money, grant unlimited liability to corporate stockholders, and permit corporations to operate in the state without the threat of interference by the legislature. (1)