DBQ: The Legacy of Andrew Jackson
Step 1: Analyzing the question
Directions: The first step in doing any DBQ is determining exactly what the question/prompt is asking you to do.
Jot down your ideas in your workspace.
Prompt:
Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy,
individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity.
To what extent is this an accurate view of Andrew Jackson's two terms of office?
Now what?
In order to answer this question fully, you will need to include a consideration of:
1--who the Jacksonians (or Jackson's supporters) were
2--the constitutional issues of the 1820's and 1830's and how Jackson dealt with
them
3--any evidence that political democracy was being challenged or developed at this time
4--issues of individual liberty raised during the 1820's and 1830's
5--issues involving equality of economic opportunity
6--how well the view that Jacksonian Democrats were guardians of the four areas can be
supported.
Give specific examples of all four areas. You will find some examples in the documents, which you will read and
analyze first. Draw on information that you have learned in your studies to provide other examples and to help
explain the extent to which you agree with the statement. But first...
Step 2: Recalling relevant information
Directions: When answering any essay question, you should briefly list the main events of the time period
addressed before you read the documents (do so in your work space). This will become your "outside
information"/"historical evidence"/"prior knowledge" that you will weave into your essay. Essays that lack
this required outside information do not generally receive very high scores.
Outside Information/Historical Evidence/Prior Information
Age of the Common Man
Age of Jackson
Organize the content into category/themes:
U.S. Constitution
Jackson's philosophy--elected by the people and responsible to them
Webster-Hayne debate
nullification/tariff crisis (Calhoun and South Carolina)
Bank veto
Political Democracy
majority rule--by white men
politics and elections; disputed election of 1824
campaign of 1828 (rise of Democratic and National Republican
parties)
formation of the Whig Party
spoils system
Individual Liberty
position on slavery
Indian removal (generally Cherokees)
Worcester v. Georgia, Cherokee nation cases
Black people, immigrants, and urban rioting
de Tocqueville and American democracy
Equality of Economic Opportunity
Bank recharter (Jackson, Clay, and Biddle)
removal of federal deposits from U.S. Bank and pet banks
specie circular
panic of 1837
THESIS STATEMENT:
Step 3: Drafting the thesis statement and outline
Directions: Before you read the documents, draft a thesis statement and outline for your essay (in your work
space). This will help you organize your thoughts. It will also ensure that you include ample outside information.
You will have a chance to revise this after you read the documents and before you begin to write.
Sample Draft Outline for a thesis statement that evaluates the extent to which Jacksonian Democrats were the
guardians of democracy:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Jacksonian Democrats and the Constitution
A.
President responsible to the common people
B.
Defies Supreme Court ruling concerning Cherokee
C.
Willingness to use force against South Carolina
D.
Supreme Court and monopoly
Political democracy
A.
Increased political participation, expansion of right to vote
B.
Spoils system, kitchen cabinet
C.
Elections of 1828 and 1832
D.
Formation of the Whig Party
Individual liberty
A.
American society/democracy
B.
Indian removal policy
C.
Continued existence of slavery
D.
Women's rights
Equality of economic opportunity
A.
Veto of Bank, establishment of pet banks
B.
Specie circular
C.
Panic of 1837 and Whigs
D.
Competition and monopoly
Sample Thesis Statements
Thesis 1: Jacksonian Democrats, supporters and followers of Andrew Jackson, were indeed the guardians of
democracy and the interests of the common people. They insisted on a strict adherence to the Constitution, the
expansion of political democracy, and the protection of individual liberty and equality of economic opportunity. There
were, however, some areas where they failed.
Thesis 2: Supporters and followers of Andrew Jackson believed themselves to be the guardians of the Constitution and
the common people and took credit for an increase in universal male suffrage during the 1820's and 1830's. However,
the issues of slavery, the removal of Native Americans, women's rights, states' rights, and the national bank recharter
and veto offered more challenges than the Jacksonian Democrats could successfully handle. The Jacksonian Democrats
were more the beneficiaries of political democracy than the guardians of it.
APUSH 2015
WRITING THE DBQ
Name:
Block:
Date:
PROMPT: Jacksonian Democrats viewed themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political
democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity.
FIRST STEP: MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
QUESTION: To what extent is this an accurate view of Andrew Jackson’s two terms as president 1829-1837. In
order to answer this question fully, you will need to include a consideration of:
1--who the Jacksonians (or Jackson's supporters) were- Jacksonian Democrats
2--the constitutional issues of the 1820's and 1830's and how Jackson dealt with them
3--any evidence that political democracy was being challenged or developed at this time
4--issues of individual liberty raised during the 1820's and 1830's
5--issues involving equality of economic opportunity
6--how well the view that Jacksonian Democrats were guardians of the four areas can be supported.
SECOND STEP: BEGIN TO ORGANIZE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW (Prior Knowledge/ Historical Evidence)
Directions: When answering any essay question, you should briefly list the MAIN EVENTS/ BROAD THEMES of the
time period addressed before you read the documents (do so in your work space). This will become your "outside
information" that you will weave into your essay. Essays that lack this required outside information do not generally
receive very high scores.
U.S. Constitution
Political Democracy
Individual Liberty
Equality of Economic Opportunity
THIRD STEP Drafting the thesis statement and outline
Thesis 1: Jacksonian Democrats, supporters and followers of Andrew Jackson, were indeed the guardians of
democracy and the interests of the common people. They upheld the supremacy of the Constitution, the expansion
of political democracy, and the protection of individual liberty and equality of economic opportunity. There were,
however, some areas where they failed.
Thesis 2: Supporters and followers of Andrew Jackson believed themselves to be the guardians of the Constitution
and the common people and took credit for an increase in universal male suffrage during the 1820's and 1830's.
However, the issues of slavery, the removal of Native Americans, states' rights, and the national bank re-charter
and veto offered more challenges than the Jacksonian Democrats could successfully handle. The Jacksonian
Democrats were more the beneficiaries of political democracy than the guardians of it.
OUTLINE
FOURTH STEP : Analyzing documents
Directions: As you read a document, note the main idea and source. Also think about how each document might
relate to outside information as well as to other documents. Try to align document notes to outline.