During the 1820s and 1830s the term Democracy first became a generally accepted term to describe how American institutions were assumed to work. The Founders had identified democracy as direct rule by the people with the exception others believing it challenged the conception of a well-balanced republic led by "natural aristocracy." Victors of popular government came to the conclusion that the people were truly autonomous and could do no wrong. The importance of the Common Man, and the Bank of United States led Jacksonian Democrats to correctly view themselves as the guardians of the United States Constitution, political democracy, individual liberty, and equality of economic opportunity. .
Establishing Andrew Jackson as President shaped the common man, farmers and urban workers, to be given more of an opportunity rather than the elite. By doing this, Jackson removed any property or religious qualifications to hold office and to vote. This enabled a voter turnout rating to increase nearly seven times during his Presidency. Jackson most likely believed that the more opportunity given to the common man the better chance he will win the election of 1832.The increase in the common man's ballot would offset the votes of the economic elites and involve more of them in governmental issues. Jackson sought as much participation in elections as possible so he allowed voters to choose their state electors and changed the state and local officials to be elected into office rather then appointed to give voters more control of their local government. Another principle of Jacksonian Democracy was the rotation system in which Jackson limited a person's stay in office to one term and appoint another in their place, therefore, emphasizing the average American capable to hold government office. Along with rotation came the reestablishment of the spoils system. "To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy," meaning that any previous office holder who was not a loyal Democrat be fired.