Presidency of Thomas Jefferson:1801-1809

“Jeffersonian” Democracy• Role of yeoman farmer in

republic• States’ rights must be

protected• Freedom of speech is essential• Scope of federal government

should be reduced

Jefferson as President

(1801 - 1809)Why is Thomas

Jefferson referred to as a “sphinx” or an

“enigma”?

TJ First Term Issues (1801-1805)

• “Common Man” Precedents

• TJ follows inauguration pledge and keeps most Hamiltonian economic plans=economy improves & national debt is reduced.

• Federalist Chief Justice John Marshall strengthens the Supreme Court: – Marbury v. Madison (1803) establishes power of Judicial

Review

• Territorial Expansion (Louisiana Purchase/Lewis & Clark Expedition)

Louisiana Purchase, 1803• Largest territorial acquisition• Connected to Jefferson’s agricultural hopes for

America/port of New Orleans for Western crops• Purchase violated Jefferson’s belief in strict

constructionism• Napoleon’s role

Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon (1803) – clash of Jefferson’spolitical philosophy & pragmatism

Second Term Issues (1805-1809)• TJ attempts to maintain neutrality in Napoleonic Wars

• Impressment of U.S. sailors & attack on USS Chesapeake (1807) by British further increase tensions

• Embargo Act of 1807; replaced with scaled down “Non-Intercourse” Act (1809)

• “Economic Coercion” postpones war until 1812

Enigmatic Jefferson retires withnation at brink of war and in flux economically

He writes, finishes Monticello and founds UVA…dies on July 4th, 1826

War of 1812

Causes• British impressments• Interference w/American

commerce• British aid to Native

Americans on frontier

Consequences• Contributed to demise of

Federalist party• Intensified nationalist

feelings• Promoted industrialization• Advanced career of Andrew

Jackson• http://www.youtube.com/w

atch?v=50_iRIcxsz0