Jefferson and his Presidency 1800 1808 Election of

Jefferson and his Presidency 1800 -1808

Election of 1800 • Federalists ran John Adams again – Strong central government and law and order – Weakened by Alien and Sedition Acts, peace with France and split with Hamilton • Democratic-Republicans ran Thomas Jefferson – First true “political party” – Agrarian, states’ rights – Accused of fathering kids with slaves, being anti-religion • Jefferson (and the Dem-Rep. Party) won • “Revolution of 1800” = Peaceful transfer of power to opposing political force was unprecedented (which is rare after a revolution in world history)

Thomas Jefferson • Jefferson was a new type of President • Liked to dress more informally, like a common man = identified with small government • Favored French culture over British • Opposed slavery, but didn’t see how it could be abolished • Was an inventor, philosopher, scientist; Designed his own home, Monticello • However, he was extremely intellectually inconsistent

Jefferson’s Presidency • Sought to downplay formality of government and eliminate distinctions between class and position – Effort to be more “democratic” in spirit instead of monarchical tendencies of Federalists • Wanted to avoid industrialization and urbanization – Wanted nation based on agriculture • Wanted very limited central government – Cut military and spending to eliminate debt – Alien and Sedition Acts expired and were not renewed – Excise tax on whiskey was repealed • However, Jefferson’s actions in office contradicted his political philosophy – 4 major actions/events demonstrate this

1) Judiciary Act of 1801 • Last minute Federalist act passed to keep Federalists in control of judicial branch • Tried to do this by appointing many judges in the days before Adams left office - “midnight judges” – Jeffersonians saw this as Federalist attempt to keep control of judicial branch – “court packing” • Jefferson wanted to fill positions from people in his party – Did not deliver notices of appointment to “midnight judges” after he was sworn in, causing the case Marbury v Madison

Marbury v. Madison (1803) • Marbury was a midnight judge who did not receive his commission – Sued Secretary of State James Madison to force delivery of commission • Chief Justice Marshall – Ruled section of Judiciary Act of 1789 allowing direct appeal to the S. C. was unconstitutional, therefore Marbury was not entitled to his commission. • sacrificed Federalist victory for increase in S. C. ’s power – This established the precedent of judicial review • Supreme Court has authority to review acts of Congress and declare unconstitutional • States tried to claim right to determine constitutionality in Kentucky resolutions (1798)

Impeachment of Samuel Chase • Federalists now had lifelong power, Judicial Branch now had power to check/balance other two branches • Jefferson attempted to impeach Supreme Court Justice Chase as revenge for Marbury decision • Was acquitted because Congress ruled that an official can only be impeached for treason, bribery or other high crimes or misdemeanors • Impeachment campaign a failure but forced judges to be more cautious and less partison in their decisions

2) Barbary Pirates • Jefferson had eliminated most military spending to save money and follow republican ideas – Distrusted standing armies – feared it could lead to dictatorships – Believed navy was unnecessary for agrarian nation • Barbary States of North Africa sent out pirates to attack ships • Kidnapped American ships and held them for ransom • Despite distrust of centralized, powerful military, Jefferson sent navy to fight pirates to stop pirates • US gets peace treaty in 1805 • Demonstrated America’s ability to defend itself

3) Louisiana Territory • Napoleon takes Louisiana back from Spain in a secret treaty in 1800 – Made Americans worried – Right of deposit was rescinded in 1802 and began to charge Americans for passing through New Orleans • Westerners depended on access to Mississippi for trade and survival – Jefferson sent James Monroe to France to buy New Orleans for $10 million • Napoleon had lost interest in North America, so he sold all of his territory for $15 million • This doubled the size of the United States

Haitian Revolution and Louisiana Purchase Haitian Revolution (1791 -1803) • Haitians (Santo Domingo) revolt against France during French Revolution – Led by Toussaint L’Ouverture • Haitians fight off French armies and mosquitos with yellow fever killed troops • Napoleon believed he needed Haiti to control Louisiana – Also did not want to encourage America to ally with Britain while France was fighting Britain Louisiana Purchase (1803) • Napoleon preferred US becoming legitimate global power to help keep Britain in check • Since Napoleon lost Haiti, he decided to sell Louisiana • Monroe and Livingston were not authorized to make purchase – Decided to buy it anyway for $15 million on April 13, 1803 – Some believed land was worthless

Jefferson’s constitutional dilemma • Constitution does not give Congress power to buy land – Jefferson (strict construction) • Jefferson decided to support the purchase anyway, go against his convictions for the perceived greater good of the country • Louisiana doubled the size of the United States – Guaranteed access to Mississippi – Believed it insured success of America and democracy – Allowed for expansion of states across the continent – 13 new states would be made from the territory (828, 000 acres)

Louisiana Purchase Effects of Purchase • Precedent established that US can purchase additional land – New lands would create states admitted on equal footing – Allowed Louisiana to keep Napoleonic Code instead of British common law • Allowed America to disengage from Europe because no European power left on North America Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery) • Americans did not know what was within Louisiana Purchase • led by his secretary Meriwether Lewis and William Clark – to find all water route to Pacific, study Indian tribes, nature and the environment – Sacajawea helped the expedition • Lewis and Clark left spring 1804 arrived at Pacific December 1805 • US claimed Oregon • Expedition gave details of what was in Louisiana

Aaron Burr Conspiracies • Federalists feared new western states would favor farmers and debtors and hurt commercial and banking interests of east • Some New Yorkers and New Englanders wanted to secede and have Aaron Burr as their President – Hamilton opposed Burr’s attempts to be elected governor of NY – Burr killed Hamilton in a duel on July 11, 1804

Burr Conspiracy • Burr went west to gain control over a territory that he could lead (1806) – Went to England Spain for support – Wanted to establish independent country in West • Governor James Wilkinson of Louisiana turned Burr in as a traitor • Courthouse of Trial Burr was acquitted of treason – Chief Justice Marshall limited definition of treason to only people who make war against the US – His political career was ruined Chief Justice Marshall Verdict sheet

War between Britain and France • Britain and France resumed Napoleonic Wars in 1803 • US had made money trading with both sides and Europe as a neutral – Both countries try to stop trade • British would board American ships and force American sailors into British navy (impressment) – US claimed more than 6, 000 Americans had been taken between 1808 -1811 – This practice posed a major foreign policy dilemma for Jefferson – Had to uphold US autonomy, while at the same time believing in non-intervention / isolationism Battle of Copenhagen 1807

4) Embargo Act of 1807 • US too weak to fight either France or England • Embargo Act passed to stop American trade with Europe – Refusal to trade w/either nation – US hoped Europe’s need for American raw materials and food would force France and England to change policies / end impressment – Jefferson was trying to show new way of diplomacy without fighting • Effects – Embargo hurt Democrat-Republican popularity – Opponents believed law was tyrannical. Federalists increased in power in the north – Also (accidentally) encouraged local manufacturing, despite Jefferson’s belief in agricultural economy – Exports decreased from $108 m-1806 to $22 m-1807

Jefferson’s Intellectual Inconsistency Small Gov’t Jefferson Big Gov’t Jefferson • Identified w/common man, believed in the “agrarian ideal” • Wrote Declaration • One of the wealthiest men in America – "Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people [slaves] are to be free. " • Believed in small government – Repealed Whiskey Tax – Alien/Sedition Acts expired • Owned slaves – "Nor is it less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same government. " • Did big government “stuff” 1. 2. 3. 4. Marbury v. Madison LA purchase (Lewis & Clark) Barbary War Embargo Act