| Summary |
Historians have debated the nature of Andrew Jackson's presidential appeal for nearly 150 years. Studies evaluating Jackson's political popularity have yielded a variety of interpretations: sectional, class, and ethnocultural among them. There is also a psychological interpretation for his appeal; voters were reacting to the economic and political changes that accompanied the times. Starting in the 1860s historians explained Jackson's appeal in general terms. In the last 60 years studies on Jackson's appeal have focused on "from the ground up" research. These state and local studies have generated more debate about Jackson's appeal than consensus. Because the voter enfranchisement laws that were put into place during the time that Jackson ran for president, and the controversial nature of his policies once in office, historians will continue to debate the nature of the voter coalition that put him there. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate Jackson's presidential appeal in North Carolina. The thesis will explore the mindset as well as the regional and economic background of the voters in North Carolina participating in the elections of 1824, 1828, and 1832. In 1824 the political movement for Jackson in the state was a key to his initial popularity as a candidate for president. Jackson solidified his extreme popularity in North Carolina in 1828. All four explanations for Jackson's appeal will apply to some extent in North Carolina. This study will evaluate which historical interpretation for Jackson's appeal applies the most in the state. A more precise analysis of Jackson's voter coalition will shed light on the reasons why possibly the most controversial figure in American history served two terms in the highest office in the land. |
