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.