Jacksonian Democracy refers to the political philosophy of United States President Andrew Jackson and his supporters, whose policies followed in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson.

Jackson's Democratic Party is resisted by the rival Whig Party.

More broadly, the term refers to the period of the Second Party System (1824-1854) when Jacksonian philosophy is ascendant as well as the spirit of that era.

It can be contrasted with the characteristics of Jeffersonian democracy, which dominated the previous political era.

Jackson's equal political policy become known as Jacksonian Democracy, subsequent to ending what he terms a "monopoly" of government.

The Jacksonian era sees a great increase of respect and power for the common man, as the electorate expands to include all white male adult citizens, rather than only land owners in that group.In contrast to the Jeffersonian period, Jacksonian democracy promotes the strength of the presidency and executive branch at the expense of Congress, while also seeking to broaden the public's participation in government.

Jacksonians believe in enfranchising all white men, rather than just the propertied class, and support the patronage system that enables politicians to appoint their supporters into administrative offices, arguing it will reduce the power of elites and prevent aristocracies from emerging.

They demand elected (not appointed) judges and rewrite many state constitutions to reflect the new values.

In national terms, the Jacksonians favor geographical expansion, justifying it in terms of Manifest Destiny.

There is usually a consensus among both Jacksonians and Whigs that battles over slavery should be avoided.

The Jacksonian Era lasts roughly from Jackson's 1828 election until the slavery issue became dominant after 1850 and the American Civil War dramatically reshapes American politics as the Third Party System emerges.