Thomas Jefferson DR Virginia 1801 1809 Early Life

Thomas Jefferson D-R, Virginia, 1801 -1809

Early Life and Beliefs • • • 3 rd President (1801 -1809) Democratic-Republican, Vir. Son of landowners Becomes a surveyor Graduated from William and Mary Believes in small gov’t, low taxes and little intervention Strict interpretation Wrote Dec. of Ind Created U of Vir. Ambassador to France

Election of 1800 • Democratic-Republican Candidates: • Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr • Federalist Candidates: • John Adams and Charles C. Pinckney

The Election of 1800 • Democratic-Republicans won the election • Both winning candidates, Jefferson and Burr, received 73 electoral votes • Election was settled the House of Representatives after 35 votes • Hamilton swings NY and the election to Jefferson, angers Burr • You. Tube - Original "got milk? " commercial

Inauguration of 1801 • First president sworn in, in D. C. • Jefferson, surprisingly, calls for unity—he states “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. ” • Jefferson DOES NOT propose to change or destroy the structure of the federal government.

Early Actions by Jefferson • Appointed Albert Gallatin as Secretary of the Treasury • Cut military spending • Reduced the army from 4000 to 2500 men • Reduced the navy from 25 to 7 ships • Reduced national debt from $83 million to $45 million • Cut ALL internal taxes – money from sales of western land

Louisiana Purchase - 1803 • Spain and France had exchanged Louisiana territory, but France ended up with it after Napoleonic Wars • Jefferson feared France would restrict trade and expansion in New Orleans and West • Jefferson sends Monroe and Robert Livingston to buy New Orleans and part of Florida for $2 -10 mil • Napoleon needs $ due to slave revolts in the Caribbean • Napoleon offers the entire territory for $15 mil • U. S. accepts the deal and doubles the size of the country

Lewis and Clark • Jefferson’s personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, is placed in charge of the expedition. The men on this expedition are called the Corps of Discovery. • Lewis selects Lt. William Clark as a cocommander. • Lewis was to explore the territory, map it, find a water route to the Pacific, make friends with the Native Americans, and drive out all French and/or British traders if possible. • Lewis and Clark hire Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter and guide his wife was Sacagawea and had Sacagawea’s newborn infant son. (tensions with natives will be eased by Sacagawea and her son’s presence) • May 14, 1804 – September 23, 1806 travel approx. . 8, 000 miles

Zebulon Pike • Zebulon Pike also explores the western territory. • Pike reaches the Colorado area and finds the mountain which now bears his name: Pike’s Peak. • Pike then moves south into the Spanish territories which eventually become Texas and Mexico.

Barbary Wars (1801 – 1805) • Barbary Pirates • Want their yearly tribute to not attack U. S. Ships • Jefferson refuses to pay and pirates declare war on U. S. ships • Jefferson blockades Tripoli • Blockade works and pirates settle • Clear U. S. needs a navy = Jefferson will build one

Embargo Act of 1807 • Britain and France are still harassing our shipping • Chesapeake-Leopard Affair in June 1807 • Jefferson does not want war with Britain • “Peaceable Coercion” = Embargo Act of 1807 • Close American ports to all imports and exports to foreign nations • Hope to devastate British and French economy • Backfires and hurts U. S. , Br. and Fr. found other markets for their goods • 1809 Congress repeals the Embargo • Jefferson has loss of popularity (Essex Junto) • Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 – no trade with Br. and Fr.

Jefferson after the Presidency • James Madison, the author of the Constitution, a Democratic. Republican, and Jefferson’s hand -picked successor becomes the next President. • Jefferson renews his friendship with his long-term friend and political rival, John Adams. • Jefferson and Adams exchange tons of letters with each other. • Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die on the same day: July 4, 1826. It was the 50 th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence which both men help write.

Jefferson’s Legacy Founding Father Wrote Dec. of Ind. Louisiana Purchase Lewis and Clark Expedition US Military Academy at West Point • Growth of America in the West • Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois- Federal land was $2 an acre • • •