One important aspect that is frequently left out of these kind of histories is how the administrative positions worked.
Jackson instituted the so-called "spoils system" whereby most of the civilian administrators would be appointed by the president and replaced when the presidency changed.
Starting during the Fourth Party System this was replaced with a professional technocratic civil service
This bureaucracy was greatly expanded during the Fifth Party System by Wilson, FDR, and LBJ until it effectively has more power than the elected government.
I very much do think that the Federalist and Democratic-Republicans were very elitist and that it was ironically Jackson that allowed the rise of the Protestant Republican middle class: German farmers in Pennsylvania, Scots-Irish in Appalachia, the Midwest by people like Clay.
One important aspect that is frequently left out of these kind of histories is how the administrative positions worked.
Jackson instituted the so-called "spoils system" whereby most of the civilian administrators would be appointed by the president and replaced when the presidency changed.
Starting during the Fourth Party System this was replaced with a professional technocratic civil service
This bureaucracy was greatly expanded during the Fifth Party System by Wilson, FDR, and LBJ until it effectively has more power than the elected government.
You are absolutely correct. I am going to be publishing an article on this topic soon.
Some further reading to your point about the distinct identities and cultures inherited from early British settlers: https://slatestarcodex.com/2016/04/27/book-review-albions-seed/
I very much do think that the Federalist and Democratic-Republicans were very elitist and that it was ironically Jackson that allowed the rise of the Protestant Republican middle class: German farmers in Pennsylvania, Scots-Irish in Appalachia, the Midwest by people like Clay.