REPUBLICAN ASCENDANCY THE JEFFERSONIAN VISION Chapter 8 Republican
REPUBLICAN ASCENDANCY: THE JEFFERSONIAN VISION Chapter 8
Republican Identities in a New Republic n An age of rapid population growth – 7. 2 million in 1810; two million more than 1800 – 20% black slaves – children under 16 the largest single group Strong regional identities n Early secession movements threaten national unity n
North America in 1800
Westward the Course of Empire Intense migration to West after 1790 n New States n – – – n Kentucky--1792 Tennessee--1796 Ohio--1803 Western regional culture rootless, optimistic
Native American Resistance Western settlers compete for Indian land n Indians resist n – – n Tecumseh leads Shawnees, defeated Creeks defeated Settlers reject Indian-White coexistence
Commercial Life in the Cities n Economy based on agriculture and trade n American shipping prospers 1793 -1805 n Cities associated with international trade, otherwise marginal role in national life n Industrialization and mechanization just beginning to frighten skilled craftsmen
Revolution of 1800 Ø Election of 1800 arguably the most significant in US History. Why?
The Federalist Finale Adams was the last Federalist president. Ø Federalist as halfway house between European past and American present. Ø Why didn’t Federalists appeal to more voters? Ø Stayed a party for another 20 years, but never won the presidency. Ø Federalists, like the dinosaurs, couldn’t adapt and so became extinct
Jefferson’s Political Principles Themes of inaugural Ø Jefferson’s political principles Ø l l l Rejected the idea of a political elite. Backbone of democracy was the free, independent farmer. Universal suffrage for white males Small government—governs best when it governs least. Strict construction of the Constitution.
Jeffersonian Restraint Ø Jefferson’s first priority = undue abuses by the Federalists. l l l Ø Pardoned those convicted under the Alien and Sedition Act Repeal Naturalization Act. Repealed the excise tax—cost US 1 Mill. per year in lost revenue. Cuts military spending to the bone (2, 500 men) Reduce the national debt (Sec. Gallatin) What does he do to the core of Hamilton’s financial program?
New Tone to Govt n Deliberately informal n Fired Federalists who were incompetent or too partisan & replaced w/ Republicans n Continued Cabinet system but didn’t invite divergent opinions
Judiciary Act of 1789 • Created Supreme Court • 5 Associate Justices, 1 Chief • 13 judicial districts • Circuit and district courts • “writ of mandamus” John Jay first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court • issued by a superior court to compel a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly
Judiciary Act of 1801 n n n Last ditch effort to hold power “midnight judges”. Chief Justice John Marshall – Shaped American legal tradition and meaning of the Constitution more profoundly than any other single figure. – Served as Chief Justice for 34 years
Attack on the Judges: Judiciary Act n Judiciary Act of 1801 creates new circuit courts filled with loyal Federalists n 1802 --Jeffersonians repeal Judiciary Act of 1801 to abolish courts n Federalists charge violation of judges’ Constitutional right of tenure
Marbury v Madison The single most important SC case in history n Basic Facts n “Writ of Mandamus” n Ruling n – Judicial Review – Consequences
Attack on the Judges: Impeachments n 1803 --Federalist John Pickering impeached, removed for alcoholism, insanity n Jefferson seeks to impeach Federalist Samuel Chase n Republican Senate refuses to convict
The Barbary States
Conflict With the Barbary States n US and other European countries paid a tribute to the North African states in the Mediterranean n Jefferson dispatches U. S. fleet to “negotiate through the mouth of a cannon” in 1801 n 1805: Treaty; $60, 000 for each prisoner n 1815: extortion finally ended after a 2 nd war
Jefferson and Louisiana
Jefferson and Louisiana n LA back in the hands of the French n Spain rescinds the right of deposit n Bonaparte dreams of empire n Santo Domingo in revolt; Bonaparte sends 20, 000 men – TJ offers $10 mil for New Orleans and West FL – If we don’t get New Orleans, then TJ needs alliance w/ Britain French defeated n
Jefferson and Louisiana n Napoleon to resume war w/ Britain. – Needs cash – Would deny LA territory to British – Reduces chances of US/British alliance n Sold to US for $15, 000
The Louisiana Purchase Constitution doesn’t grant power to President to add new territory – He suggests an amendment – BUT delay make Napoleon change mind n n Federalists all of a sudden become strict constructionists – Real issue was the growth of Western states which could be expected to be Republican What is the precedent set here?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition commissioned prior to purchase of Louisiana n Expedition left St. Louis May 1804 and reached the Pacific Ocean November 1805 n Report on Louisiana’s economic promise confirms Jefferson's desire to purchase n
The Louisiana Purchase and the Route of Lewis and Clark
Murder and Conspiracy: The Curious Career of Aaron Burr n n Vice-President Aaron Burr dropped by TJ after 1 st term 1804 --Burr, NY and secessionist New England Federalists Alexander Hamilton blocks Burr’s efforts The Duel
Hamilton-Burr Duel
The Burr Conspiracy n Burr flees West after Hamilton duel n Schemes to detach West from US and invade Spanish Mexico and FL n Burr arrested, tried for treason n John Marshall acquits on Constitutional grounds of insufficient evidence n Precedent makes it difficult for presidents to use charge of treason as a political tool
Embarrassments Overseas n 1789 -1805: increase in trade from 100, 000 to 1, 000 tons n 1803 --England France resume war n American ships subject to seizure – by England through “Orders in Council" – by Napoleon through Berlin, Milan Decrees n Violation of major US foreign policy: “Freedom of the Seas”
America: A Neutral Power? England impresses over 6000 -9000 US sailors between 1805 -12. n England refused to stop. n
HMS Leopard v. US Chesapeake 1807
What to do? n n Large scale foreign war goes against our policy Navy weak Army almost nonexistent Defeat would have devastating impact on US n n Europe depended heavily on US trade Cutting off exports would force England France to bow to US pressure and allow us to trade
Embargo Act of 1807
Embargo n n Most people HATED it. Why? . – New England Federalist particularly mad – What did they argue? Consequences: – Three times more costly that war would have been. – Ultimately did help New England factories. Fostered American industry. – Ruined U. S. Shipping (merchant marine)
Non-Intercourse Act 3/1809: Embargo Act repealed n Non-Intercourse Act n – No trade w/ England France – Would expire in 1810 n Non-Intercourse Act did hurt England, and they repealed Orders in Council, but too late to avoid War of 1812
James Madison n Became 4 th President in 1809. 5 -4, 100 lb. , weak voice. Very distinguished career: – Cont. Congress, Congressman, Const. Convention, Sec. of State. n n Not very successful as President. Party broken by factions; Madison- not a strong leader. Dolly Madison, first true First Lady who acted as social hostess.
Madison: Dupe Of Napoleon n 5/1810: Macon’s Bill No. 2 – If you recognize US neutral rights, then we won’t trade with your enemy – Showed we couldn’t survive w/o commercial dependence Napoleon tricks Madison n Sets US on course antagonistic to England. n
“War Hawks” John C. Calhoun [SC] Henry Clay [KY]
Battling Indians in the West n War Hawks believed Brits stirring up Indians in the West. – Kentucky Problem n Tecumseh and the Prophet (Tenskawatawa). Shawnee Brothers – Began a tribal confederacy east of the Mississippi. – Attacked Settlers on “their” land.
Tecumseh and the Prophet n Purpose of the confederation: – Cultural regeneration – Stop loss if Indian lands – Keep tribes apart from the white man’s culture
Battle of Tippecanoe (11/1811) n n William Henry Harrison Gov. of Indiana Territory Planned to attack Tecumseh’s headquarters (not there) Prophet attacks w/ small force; defeated Forced an alliance w/ the British
Oh! The Lack of Communication n Winter of 1811 -12 severest in England’s history n British govt under pressure from merchants, businessmen, workers to withdraw Orders in Council n Withdrawn on June 16, 1812
War of 1812 n June 18, 1812 militant War Hawks get a declaration of war from Congress, – very narrow vote, signaling a dangerous division in the country n n Federalists strongly opposed Dubbed it “Mr. Madison’s War”
Federalists Democratic-Republicans Yes No 0 40 98 22
Madison’s Reasons n n n Impressment Repeated violations of US territorial waters by Royal Navy The Orders in Council violate neutral trade
Indian Battles n Nov 1811 General William Henry Harrison (9 th president) attacked Tecumseh’s headquarters at Tippecanoe Indiana n 1814 Andrew Jackson (7 th President) crushed Creek Indians at Battle of Horseshoe Bend (Alabama) – Significance?
The Strange War of 1812: Early Course n Americans unprepared for war – – Congress refuses to raise wartime taxes New England refuses to support war effort United States Army small state militias inadequate
Strange War of 1812: The War’s Conclusion n 1814 --three-pronged English attack – campaign from Canada to Hudson River Valley stopped at Lake Champlain – campaign in the Chesapeake results in burning of Washington – Ft. Mc. Henry in Baltimore
Crucial Battles n Put-in-Bay (Lake Erie) (1813) – Oliver Hazard Perry; evacuation of Detroit n Plattsburg (Lake Champlain) (1814) – Thomas Mac. Donough; New York n Horseshoe Bend (1814) – Andrew Jackson and the Creek n New Orleans (1815) – Andrew Jackson; fought after war over
Battle of New Orleans (1/8/15) n Jackson’s hodgepodge force of 7, 000 sailors – Regulars – Pirates – Frenchmen n Militia men – Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee n 8, 000 overconfident British veterans – 2, 000 killed/wounded in 30 min
Treaty of Ghent Ends the War n Tsar of Russia feared Napolean’s army; needed help from British – As early as 1812 Most problems left unaddressed; a draw n Senate unanimously ratifies Treaty of Ghent n Americans claim success in a "second war of independence" n
New England Federalists Opposed the war n Activities bordered on treason n – Communicating w/ British, banks not lending money to the govt) n War actually stimulated New England manufacturing
Hartford Convention: The Demise of the Federalists convene December, 1814 n Radical Federalists: expected British to capture New Orleans n – Wanted a new draft of Constitution n Proposed Constitutional changes to lessen power of South and West
Hartford Report n n n n 3/5 compromise to be abolished 2/3 vote to declare war or admit new states Prohibit embargoes beyond 60 days Exclude foreign born citizens from federal office Limit the President to one term Prohibit the election of two successive Presidents from the same state News from New Orleans and then Ghent ruined Federalists
Republican Legacy Founders begin to pass away in 1820 s n Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die July 4, 1826 n James Madison dies in 1836 n – despairs that Declaration’s principles not yet extended to African Americans
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