Thomas Jefferson: Jeffersonian America The Presidential Years 1800-1808 (1801-1809)

Thomas Jefferson:

Jeffersonian America

The Presidential Years

1800-1808

(1801-1809)

The Republicans’ Political Revolution

• The Jeffersonian Presidency

• Jefferson and the West

• Conflict with Britain and France

The Presidential Election of 1800

The “Revolution” of 1800• Jefferson - (Democratic-

Republican) won• John Adams -

(Federalist)• “We are all Republicans,

we are all Federalists”• Power in government

transferred PEACEFULLY from one party to another

• Bloodless and revolutionary in International politics

Jefferson’s Early Policies

• FEDERALIST• Maintained National

Bank (a Federalist idea {Hamilton})

• Maintained debt-repayment plan

• Carried on Neutrality policies of Washington and Adams

• REPUBLICAN• Pursued limited central

government– Reduced size of military– Eliminated federal jobs– Repealed excise taxes

(whiskey)– All Republican cabinet

Jeffersonian Republicanism

• A republic (small ‘r’) of independent, virtuous, yeoman farmers

• Self-sufficient, hard-working, proud

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Map 8.6 Defining the National Boundaries, to 1800-1820 (p. 240)

Map 8.4 U.S. Population Density in 1803 and the Louisiana Purchase (p. 234)

The Louisiana Purchase: 1803

• Napoleon sold to US for 3¢ an acre ($15 million)

• TJ struggled with constitutionality of the purchase

• Saw territory as potential “Northwest Passage” to the Pacific

• Saw it as potential to be less tangled in European affairs

• Doubled Size of US

Louisiana Purchase

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Lewis and

Clark

• Left St. Louis in 1804 with 31 men• Explored Louisiana Territory via the Missouri River• Contact with Indian Nations• Scientific knowledge greatly expanded• Strengthened US claims to Oregon• Maps and Geographic knowledge expanded

John Marshall and the Supreme Court

• Federalist appointed judge

• 34 years on Supreme Court

• Most decisions strengthened federal government

• Marbury v. Madison (1803) - judicial review

Marbury v. Madison

• Established principle of judicial review

• Judicial Review - Rights of the Courts to review laws based on their Constitutionality

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Jefferson re-elected in 1804

• 2nd term troubles– Aaron Burr plot– Opposition within Republican party (Quids)– Napoleonic Wars in Europe

Burr conspiracy(s) and Duel• Burr and New England

radical Federalists to secede in 1804 - failed

• Challenged A. Hamilton to duel - killed him in 1804

• Westward conspiracy - take Mexico to unite with Louisiana under his rule

• Burr conspiracy trial - acquitted of treason by a jury

Foreign problems• Barbary pirates - US Navy

fought 1801-1805 - to a draw

• British - challenged US Navy - impressment of US sailors into British navy

• Chesapeake-Leopard affair - British ship fired on US ship

• Embargo Act of 1807 - no US merchant ships into foreign ports

Embargo Act Cartoon

Embargo Act of 1807

• Intended to punish the British and French

• Backfired and devastated the US economy

• Repealed in 1809

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