Age of Common Man.notebook
November 06, 2014
What effect did the admission of western states have on voting requirements throughout the nation?
To what extent and in what ways was democracy expanding in the early 19th century? Cite specific examples.
By 1840, what was the standard for voting in most states?
Nov 5­9:14 AM
Nov 5­11:44 AM
Document A:
Ours is a country, where men start from an [sic] humble origin, and from small beginnings rise gradually in the world, as the reward of merit and industry, and where they attain to the most elevated positions, or acquire a large amount of wealth, according to the pursuits they elect for themselves. No exclusive privileges of birth, no entailment of estates, no civil or political disqualifications, stand in their path; but one has as good a chance as another, according to his talents, prudence, and personal exertions. This is a country of self­made men, than which nothing better could be said of any state of society.
Economic Growth and Stratification of Wealth Year Population
in millions
Nonfarm Labor Force
Per Capita
Wealth
21.0
64.4
Wealth Owned By Top l0 Percent
45 percent
1800 5.3
1820 17.4
17.1
67.7
50 percent
1840 19.6
36.6
100.0
55 percent
1860 31.4
46.8
137.0
60 percent Calvin Colton, early 19th century Whig
Question: To what extent is the passage above an accurate description of America in the early 19th century?
Give examples to support your answer.
Nov 5­7:56 AM
Question: To what extent does the data in this chart support the author of Document A's argument?
Nov 5­8:01 AM
Who was one of the first national politicians to take advantage of the new spirit of the "common man"?
What happened in the election of 1824?
What were the long­term consequences of this election?
Oct 28­9:56 AM
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