From: Matt Carminito
Date: 3/20/00
Time: 9:44:20 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.59.56
Matt Carminito History 67 3/21/00
An argument could be made either for or against the United States being a land of opportunity by the 1830s. Democracy took on a new meaning under president, Andrew Jackson and the lower classes were now given a chance in society unlike previous times. During the Jacksonian period, the people were considered as sovereign. The people directly ruled the country while they were considered to be the voice of God. Under this democracy the normality of being born into a social class vanished. This happening had a significant impact on the lower class. They now had opportunity. Poorer individuals with drive and ambition could work their way up into positions that were formally held by the rich. The rich were no longer guaranteed jobs in government and they had to compete with all the people to obtain them. In the 1820s most obstructions that prevented certain white males from voting were demolished. Now that nearly every white male had an opportunity to vote, more and more persons were being elected to government rather than having the position handed to them. The opportunity discussed however only is relevant to the poor white males. Poor white males were being given a chance in government under Jacksonian democracy but women, blacks and Native Americans are never mentioned. It will be a long time before the United States will become a land of opportunity for those groups.