Final answer:
The political culture of the 1820s and 1830s saw the rise of American democracy and a shift away from the elite-driven republic of the 1780s and 1790s. The decline of the Federalist Party and the emergence of the Democratic and Whig parties reflected this change, with a focus on populism and expanded electorate, along with the looming issue of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Political Culture Between the 1820s-1830s and the 1780s-1790s
The political culture of the 1820s and 1830s differed significantly from that of the 1780s and 1790s. During the earlier period, the first party system was in place, consisting of the Federalists, who favored a strong central government, and the Democratic-Republicans, who supported more power for the states. The Federalist Party, led by figures like Washington, Hamilton, and Adams, dominated this era.
By the 1820s, the political landscape had transformed. The Federalist Party began to decline after the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800, leading to the rise of American democracy and universal manhood suffrage. This era witnessed the development of the second party system, with the Democratic Party supporting Andrew Jackson and the emergence of the Whig Party opposing Jackson's policies. Key to this transformation was the market revolution, which altered interactions between Americans and their government, and the acceptance of political parties as a means for public debate and upholding democratic principles. Despite the progress, issues such as the rights of states, the federal government's powers, and the contentious future of slavery began to surface.
Furthermore, the introduction of new democratic reforms such as the abolition of property qualifications for voting and innovative political party organizations, as seen during the 1828 campaign for Andrew Jackson's presidency, highlighted the shift from an elite-driven republic to a democracy guided more significantly by the will of the people. This era's politics were marked by an expanded electorate and a populism that stood in stark contrast to the aristocratic ambiance of the previous decades.