Welcome to your TOEFL Reading Comprehension Section (3)
The development of the modern presidency in the United States began with Andrew Jack- son, who swept to power in 1829 at the head of the Democratic Party and served until 1837. During his administration he immeasurably enlarged the power of the presidency. “The president is the direct representative of the American people,” he lectured the Senate when it opposed him. “He was elected by the people, and is responsible to them.” With this declaration, Jackson redefined the character of the presidential office and its relationship to the people. During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Whig Party. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce. The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of greedy aristocrats. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s vir- tue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth. The Demo- crats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, chang- ing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of indepen- dence that came with it. Whigs, on the other hand, were more comfortable with the market. For them, com- merce and economic development were agents of civilization. Nor did the Whigs envision any conflict in society between farmers and workers on the one hand and businesspeople and bankers on the other. Economic growth would benefit everyone by raising national income and expanding opportunity. The government’s responsibility was to provide a well- regulated economy that guaranteed opportunity for citizens of ability. Whigs and Democrats differed not only in their attitudes toward the market but also about how active the central government should be in people’s lives. Despite Andrew Jackson’s inclination to be a strong president, Democrats as a rule believed in limited gov- ernment. Government’s role in the economy was to promote competition by destroying monopolies1 and special privileges. In keeping with this philosophy of limited government, Democrats also rejected the idea that moral beliefs were the proper sphere of government action. Religion and politics, they believed, should be kept clearly separate, and they gener- ally opposed humanitarian legislation. The Whigs, in contrast, viewed government power positively. They believed that it should be used to protect individual rights and public liberty, and that it had a special role where individual effort was ineffective. By regulating the economy and competition, the government could ensure equal opportunity. Indeed, for Whigs the concept of government promoting the general welfare went beyond the economy. In particular, Whigs in the north- ern sections of the United States also believed that government power should be used to foster the moral welfare of the country. They were much more likely to favor social-reform legislation and aid to education. In some ways the social makeup of the two parties was similar. To be competitive in winning votes, Whigs and Democrats both had to have significant support among farmers, the largest group in society, and workers. Neither party could win an election by appealing exclusively to the rich or the poor. The Whigs, however, enjoyed disproportionate strength TOEFL iBT® Practice Test 1 219 Reading among the business and commercial classes. Whigs appealed to planters who needed credit to finance their cotton and rice trade in the world market, to farmers who were eager to sell their surpluses, and to workers who wished to improve themselves. Demo- crats attracted farmers isolated from the market or uncomfortable with it, workers alien- ated from the emerging industrial system, and rising entrepreneurs who wanted to break monopolies and open the economy to newcomers like themselves. The Whigs were stron- gest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more isolated and languishing economically. 1. monopolies: Companies or individuals that exclusively own or control commercial enterprises with no com- petitors
The development of the modern presidency in the United States began with Andrew Jack-
son, who swept to power in 1829 at the head of the Democratic Party and served until
1837. During his administration he immeasurably enlarged the power of the presidency.
“The president is the direct representative of the American people,” he lectured the Senate
when it opposed him. “He was elected by the people, and is responsible to them.” With this
declaration, Jackson redefined the character of the presidential office and its relationship
to the people.
During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form
the Whig Party. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought
about by the market, banks, and commerce. The Democrats tended to view society as a
continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of
greedy aristocrats. This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated
the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s vir-
tue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth. The Demo-
crats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian
republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, chang-
ing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of indepen-
dence that came with it.
Whigs, on the other hand, were more comfortable with the market. For them, com-
merce and economic development were agents of civilization. Nor did the Whigs envision
any conflict in society between farmers and workers on the one hand and businesspeople
and bankers on the other. Economic growth would benefit everyone by raising national
income and expanding opportunity. The government’s responsibility was to provide a well-
regulated economy that guaranteed opportunity for citizens of ability.
Whigs and Democrats differed not only in their attitudes toward the market but also
about how active the central government should be in people’s lives. Despite Andrew
Jackson’s inclination to be a strong president, Democrats as a rule believed in limited gov-
ernment. Government’s role in the economy was to promote competition by destroying
monopolies1 and special privileges. In keeping with this philosophy of limited government,
Democrats also rejected the idea that moral beliefs were the proper sphere of government
action. Religion and politics, they believed, should be kept clearly separate, and they gener-
ally opposed humanitarian legislation.
The Whigs, in contrast, viewed government power positively. They believed that it
should be used to protect individual rights and public liberty, and that it had a special role
where individual effort was ineffective. By regulating the economy and competition, the
government could ensure equal opportunity. Indeed, for Whigs the concept of government
promoting the general welfare went beyond the economy. In particular, Whigs in the north-
ern sections of the United States also believed that government power should be used to
foster the moral welfare of the country. They were much more likely to favor social-reform
legislation and aid to education.
In some ways the social makeup of the two parties was similar. To be competitive in
winning votes, Whigs and Democrats both had to have significant support among farmers,
the largest group in society, and workers. Neither party could win an election by appealing
exclusively to the rich or the poor. The Whigs, however, enjoyed disproportionate strength
219
Reading
among the business and commercial classes. Whigs appealed to planters who needed
credit to finance their cotton and rice trade in the world market, to farmers who were
eager to sell their surpluses, and to workers who wished to improve themselves. Demo-
crats attracted farmers isolated from the market or uncomfortable with it, workers alien-
ated from the emerging industrial system, and rising entrepreneurs who wanted to break
monopolies and open the economy to newcomers like themselves. The Whigs were stron-
gest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market
economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more
isolated and languishing economically.
1. monopolies: Companies or individuals that exclusively own or control commercial enterprises with no com-
petitors
1. According to paragraph 1, the presidency of Andrew Jackson was especially significant for which of the following reasons?
2-) The author mentions “ bankers and investors ” in the passage as an example of which of the following?
3-) According to paragraph 3, Whigs believed that commerce and economic develop- ment would have which of the following effects on society?
4-) According to paragraph 3, which of the following describes the Whig Party’s view of the role of government?
5-) According to paragraph 4, a Democrat would be most likely to support government action in which of the following areas?
6-) The word “ concept ” in the passage is closest in meaning to
7-) Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 5 about variations in political beliefs within the Whig Party?
In some ways the social makeup of the two parties was similar. To be competitive in win-
ning votes, Whigs and Democrats both had to have significant support among farmers,
the largest group in society, and workers. Neither party could win an election by appealing
exclusively to the rich or the poor. The Whigs, however, enjoyed disproportionate strength
among the business and commercial classes. Whigs appealed to planters who needed
credit to finance their cotton and rice trade in the world market, to farmers who were
eager to sell their surpluses, and to workers who wished to improve themselves. Demo-
crats attracted farmers isolated from the market or uncomfortable with it, workers alien-
ated from the emerging industrial system, and rising entrepreneurs who wanted to break
monopolies and open the economy to newcomers like themselves. The Whigs were stron-
gest in the towns, cities, and those rural areas that were fully integrated into the market
economy, whereas Democrats dominated areas of semisubsistence farming that were more
isolated and languishing economically.
😎 Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the high- lighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.8. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the high- lighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
9-) During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to form the Whig Party. (A) Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce. (B) The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of greedy aristocrats. (C) This “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth. (D) The Demo- crats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, chang- ing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of urban centers; and the loss of indepen- dence that came with it. 9-) Directions: Look at the part of the passage that is displayed above. The letters (A), (B), (C), and (D) indicate where the following sentence could be added. This new party argued against the policies of Jackson and his party in a num- ber of important areas, beginning with the economy. Where would the sentence best fit?
