Unit Eight The Jeffersonian Era Jeffersonian Democracy 1800

Unit Eight: The Jeffersonian Era Jeffersonian Democracy 1800 – 1804

Election of 1800 • The Election of 1800 showed that power in a democracy could switch hands between two opposing factions and not end up in war. • In 1800 Thomas Jefferson (President) and Aaron Burr (V. P. ) entered the white house as the first Democratic/Republicans to hold the Presidency. • Thomas Jefferson at the beginning of his first term stated that he was starting the Revolution of 1800.

Jefferson’s Agenda • The Revolution of 1800 was Jefferson’s wish to undo most of the policies of the Federalists party returning the power of government back to the local powers (states), limiting the powers of the Federal Government, and the belief in agrarianism called Jeffersonian Democracy. • Jefferson’s agenda was four fold: – 1. ) Reduce Taxes (especially excise taxes) – 2. ) Reduce the size of the Federal Bureaucracy (people employed by the gov. ) – 3. ) Reduce the size of the army – 4. ) Repeal the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Jefferson’s Plan in Motion • Jefferson started his dismantling of the power of the Federal government through the U. S. Supreme Court. • The Demo/Rep Congress passed into law the Judiciary Act of 1801 which reduced the size of the Supreme Court, added three more circuit courts, and 13 district courts. • This was to decentralize judicial proceedings and to weaken the Federalist Party.

The Plan Backfires • The only problem with the new legislation was that John Adams got to appoint all the new judges and the Chief Supreme Court Justice before leaving office. • John Adams moved quickly to appoint all the new judges (called the midnight judges), and to appoint John Marshall as the Chief Justice (close friend and Federalist). • As soon as Jefferson took office, all the appointments that were not given out were thrown away so Jefferson could appoint them.

Marbury Vs. Madison • William Marbury after not receiving his appoint to the Federal seat of the District of Columbia sued Secretary of State James Madison in the Supreme Court asking for a writ of mandamus (an order to force him to deliver the letter) starting the case called Marbury vs. Madison. • In his ruling John Marshall stated that the Supreme court could not rule over the case because it was a court of appeals (only sees cases after they have be tried in a lower court) not a court of original jurisdiction (can hear a case for the first time.

Marbury Vs. Madison • Marbury vs. Madison laid the principle of Judicial Review (which allows the Supreme Court to judge if laws are constitutional or not, not innocence or guilt). • This allowed the Supreme Court to be the final say and “protector” of people’s rights against governmental tyranny, and to be free from political coercion. John Marshall

The Impeachment of a Justice • During the first years of Jefferson’s administration he and his party brought many judges up for impeachment (the process of trying a government official for wrong doing while in office). [Does not mean to kick them out of office] • One of the most famous was Justice Samuel Chase who was tried for attacking people’s civil liberties, but was acquitted (found innocent) of all charges.

Other Jeffersonian Ideals • The American farmer is the best example of civic virtue, far from political corruption. • America is an empire of liberty, and should uphold this in the world. • Separation of church and state so each do not influence the other. • Freedom of speech and press, so the people can be heard. • Standing armies during times of peace can be used against the people by the government. • Constitution should be strictly followed and not read into.

Foreign Affairs • The first issue abroad that Jefferson had to deal with was attacks on American merchant shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. • A group of North African states (Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli) joined together and formed a group known as the Barbary Pirates attacking, raiding, and seizing commerce ships as they sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar (gateway to the Mediterranean Sea) • The Pirates forced the foreign nations to pay a tribute (an annual payment made to not attack), or a ransom (money paid to get something back) to sail in the Sea or to receive there cargo and crew back.

To the Shores of Tripoli • Jefferson refused to payoff the Pasha (ruler) of Tripoli and instead sent the U. S. Navy to defend commerce vessels in the area. • Commodore Edward Preble led a naval war on the Pirates while army officer William Eaton led a land assault against the capital of Tripoli. • The most daring mission was when the U. S. Marines led by Stephan Decatur snuck into the port of Tripoli and burned the captured American vessel the U. S. S. Philadelphia. • The Barbary Wars finally ended in 1815 after many years of American blockades forcing the Barbary States to signs peace treaties to respect American naval presence in the area.

Barbary Wars

Foreign Affairs • The major foreign affairs issue of the time was the French general Napoleon Bonaparte becoming ruler of France and his dream to create a vast French Empire not only in Europe, but also in the New World. • In 1800 Napoleon signed the Treaty of San Ildefonso forcing Spain to cede (to give up) the Louisiana Territory and West Florida to France.

Problems with New Orleans • Even though France held ownership of New Orleans the Spanish were allowed to govern over it. • The Spanish refused to allow American Farmers to use the port, causing the Western farmers almost to raise a militia and attack New Orleans. • To keep America out of war, Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris to aid Robert R. Livingston in the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida for 10 million dollars. ( this action was completely unauthorized by the Constitution)

Haiti! • The French government at first rejected the offer of the American diplomats, until Napoleon’s dreams in the New World were stopped by a small island in the Caribbean. • The colony of Santo Domingo (Haiti) was taken over by a slave revolt led by Toussaint L’Ouverture, which was the key to Napoleon’s New World Empire. • The Haitian revolt and the start of a new war in Europe made Napoleon disparate for cash.

The Louisiana Purchase • Napoleon authorized the sell of the entire Louisiana Territory to the United States for 15 million dollars gaining 828, 000 squares miles of western land. • The Louisiana Purchase alone double the size of the new nation. • The Louisiana Purchase though put America in direct conflict over the boundary of the new area with Spain (Southwest) and Britain (Canada and Oregon Country).

The Louisiana Purchase

Domestic Issues • Jefferson had to deal with two major domestic issues that developed in New England in the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. • In New England a group of Federalists known as the Essex Junto led by Timothy Pickering wanted to secede (withdraw) from the nation, but needed the assistance of Aaron Burr and New York. • After Burr lost the election for governor of New York the plan was called off.

Domestic Issues • One of the major reasons Burr lost the election was because of the remarks against him made by Alexander Hamilton. • Aaron Burr feeling disrespected challenged Hamilton to a duel (gun fight), shooting and killing him. • After this Burr moved out west where once again he was involved in a plot to secede the Louisiana Territory from the nation led by General James Wilkinson. • Burr was tried for treason (a crime against the whole nation), but was found innocent because of a lack of witnesses who would testify against him.

The Duel

Election of 1804 • In 1804, Jefferson and George Clinton ran against the Federalist candidates Charles C. Pinckney and Rufus King easily defeating them winning a second term. • The Democratic/Republicans also took many seats in the House and Senate. • Thomas Jefferson’s election to a second term showed a decline in the Federalist party and the overwhelming support of the people for Thomas Jefferson and his actions.