Utopian Experiments

The Utopian experiments expressed both optimistic and pessimistic views of human nature and society. This statement is valid because the new Utopian experiments expressed the new ideals of a perfect society. In these societies the people would all take roles in labor and leisure. Not only would the men work, but the women would do so also. This made more optimistic views for the society because it needed no slaves. It gave everyone something to do and nobody would be left of anything. The Utopian society also created pessimistic views because now that women were working, the men had less control over their households. Women felt they should be included in political arguments and other issues, things that were though that only men should worry about. The men in these societies felt like they were losing the power that they had because the people they reigned over, were no longer there for them to govern. American reform movements between 1820 and 1860 had both optimistic and pessimistic views, but in the end the Utopian experiments failed due to the pessimistic views and because of the men nature to dominate over the women and children.

Cotton, Slavery, and the Old South

Slavery was the dominating reality of all southern life because it built the south and was the reason why it thrived. Even though slaves were the ones building the south up, no the whites, socially slaves were inferior to whites. No matter what kind of life style the whites led, they were still superior to slaves because of the social system involving race. Slavers were at the bottom and the plantation owners were at the top. Slavery also afected the economy because it provided the labor source need for the south's expanding agricultural society. The the new cottom crop and other rising crops like rice and tabacco the increasing demands couldn't equal the production. In order for them to make more money the south used slaves as a labor source to produce crops. This in turn boosted the south's economy and made them the agricultural power house in the Americas. Thanks in part to slavery the southern life thrived and was set apart from the rest of the country because of their unique systems and way of life.

Common Man or King Andrew

The Common Man

Andrew Jackson was a firm believer in the theory of democracy. He pushed for a equalization of all people under his presidential term. He opened up voting to all white males instead of just white males who owned land and represented those who wanted to make the government responsive to the will of the people rather than to the power of special interest. The Jacksonian democracy was the effort to control the power of the capitalist groups for the benefit of non-capitalist groups, farmers, and labouring men. Even Robert V. Remini, a leading Jackson biographer of the post war era., noted that " Jackson was a genuine man of the people." His goals were to relieve the entrenched officeholders, and permanent officeholders and give other people a chance. He also realized the government was about special intrest and removed 1/5 the federal officeholders during his 8 years in office. He wanted to get rid of the National bank because he believed that it was ran by the entrenched officeholders and they were hurting the country. Even though he wanted to get rid of indians he did it so that he could help his country expand because he believed it was in their best intrest. He also believed in nullification which helped him write and grant alot of new laws. Overall Andrew Jackson was a common man who used his place in society to benefit others. He democratic and government reforms helped and hurt society but it all was for the overall good of the country. Andrew Jackson was indeed a genuine common man.