Republican Rule: Jefferson through the War of 1812

Chapter 4 Sections 3 and 4

Jeffersonian Republicanism

Ideology: Wanted a democratic government—power in the hands of

the people Thought all “educated” males should be able to vote not just

wealthy people Glorified the independent yeoman farmer

Thought cities/industry made people dependent on others As little government involvement as possible in order to

prevent chaos/anarchy More power for the states, less for the federal govt (states

rights) Very narrow interpretation of the Constitution

Who would be a Republican? Farmers/farming interests—South and the Westnew region Generally the poor/middle class, but also wealthy people in

the South

Compare and Contrast: Republican vs Federalist

Republican Federalist

South and West New England, northern parts of the Middle States

Farmers, rural areas Merchants, factory owners, cities

Poor/middle class Middle class and upper class

Friendship with France Friendship with Britain

Narrow interpretation of Const. Broad Interpretation of Const.

No bank Yes bank

No standing army, small navy Standing army, larger navy

States rights National government power

Revolution of 1800 Jefferson won a close election: defeats Adams 73-65

Aaron Burr vice president

Why a revolution? No blood or violence Major change in the philosophies of the governing

party Also, 1st peaceful exchange of power between 2 rival

administrations

1st President to be inaugurated in Washington D.C. (1801)

After 1801 the Republicans controlled the Presidency, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, but not the federal courts, why?

Jefferson’s Policies: Really a Revolution?

Jefferson didn’t completely get rid of Federalist Policies but he did change a lot of things

What stayed? Hamilton’s tariffs, and debt repayment policies Most federalists who worked for the government The national bank

What got reversed? Idea of a “permanent debt” to secure the loyalty of the

wealthy Excise Tax on Whiskey Alien and Sedition Acts Army pretty much eliminated, navy reduced in size

Jefferson’s 1st Term: 1800-1804 Largely successful

Barbary Pirates War 1801-1805

Louisiana Purchase 1803 France at first tried to colonize it, gave up, sold land to

US for $15 million Lewis and Clark expedition 1803-1805

Problems with the purchase Where in the Constitution does it say President or

Congress has the power to buy land and add it to the United States?

People in New England not happy, why?

The Courts and Jefferson: Marbury v. Madison and the Aaron Burr Trial

Marbury v. Madison 1803—Judicial Review Supreme Court Case Supreme Court could overturn federal laws IF those

laws were judged to violate the Constitution

Aaron Burr Trial Tried to set up his own country in the southwest,

arrested charged with treason Put on trial but found not guilty Established the precedent of a very strict

interpretation/definition of treason

Jefferson’s 2nd Term: 1804-1808 Jefferson won reelection easily in 1804

2nd term dominated by problems with France and Britain

Background: Napoleonic Wars Problems with US trade in the Atlantic Ocean

Jefferson’s problem: can’t go to war with France and/or Britain, but need to make them stop

Solution: Embargo Act 1807 All trade between the US and Europe prohibited Who was this designed to hurt? Who would be upset with this in the US? Unsuccessful: hurt the US more than Britain or France Repealed in 1809 just before Jefferson left office

James Madison and the War of 1812

James Madison (Jefferson’s Sec. of State, author of Const.) elected President in 1808

Problems with France/Britain seizing US ships remained

Other problems: British supplying Indians with money/weapons in

Canada Impressment of US sailors by the British US settlers in the West wanted to take over British

Canada (War Hawks)

French repealed their trade restrictions Britain didn’t* US declared War on Britain in 1812 (1812-1814)

War of 1812: Problems US not prepared for war

Army/Navy had been slashed by Republicans Only 6,700 men in the army Only 16 ocean-going ships in navy

Finances not good, why? No more excise taxes Very little revenue from tariffs (embargo act=no trade) Nobody to lend government money (no National Bank)

Very little US industry—Republicans had stressed farming—made it hard to produce wartime goods

No good roads to transport men/supplies around the country

War of 1812 Some early successes at Sea—USS Constitution

War went badly for the Americans especially at first Invasion of Canada a disastrous failure British blockade prevented US trade with foreign countries British took over Detroit, Chicago, large parts of the

Northwest, and captured and burned Washington DC

Some American successes Battle of Lake Erie, Battle of Lake Champlain, Battle of

Fort McHenry (Baltimore, Star Spangled Banner) Battle of the Thames (in Canada) Indian leader Tecumseh

killed Battle of New Orleans (1815)—Andrew Jackson defeated

the British, saved the city

Treaty of Ghent Christmas Eve 1814—War over “status quo ante bellum”—nothing resolved

Hartford Convention: the end of the Federalist Party

Federalists upset with the war, upset with 16 years of Republican rule

Met in Hartford 1814-1815 came up with a list of Constitutional Amendments that they wanted enacted: 2/3rds vote in Congress to declare war, or admit new states Elimination of the 3/5ths clause (slaves wouldn’t count at all) 1 term maximum for Presidents No back to back Presidents from the same state No more trade embargoes

If their demands weren’t met. . . . . secession?? During war time?

Came to Washington with their demands January of 1815 What two events did they hear about when they got there?

Hartford Convention made the Federalists look like traitors, party lost a lot of support, died out soon thereafter

Significance of the War of 1812

Increase in American nationalism—”We beat the British again!”

Andrew Jackson became a hero—soon would become President (1828)

Federalist Party on the way out (Hartford Convention)

Republican Party/Madison began to support a lot of Federalist ideas: A new national bank A standing army and navy Tariffs to protect US industries Federal financing of roads and canals to ease transportation

After the war there was really only 1 political party—the Republicans