A republican form of government derives its power from the people, but the degree to which the people are involved depends on the type of republic. During the Antebellum period, the political culture of the United States went from that of an aristocratic republic to a democratic republic. In 1820, the Missouri Compromise was passed in an era where laws were the product of dealmaking and consensus among elites. The decades leading to the American Civil War saw the development of Jacksonian Democracy and the people became more directly involved in government, resulting in a more contentious legislative process based on forming majority coalitions. In my upcoming lectures on the Antebellum period, I will examine key movements and events through the lens of this changing political culture.
