Jefferson’s presidency (1800-1808)

Major Campaign Issues

Alien and Sedition Acts

Increase in taxes

Heavy defense

expenditures

Reduction of trade with

France

Anti-British sentiment

over impressment of

American seamen

Electoral Tie!

Jefferson-Burr

receive 73 votes each

House of

Representatives

decides Presidency-

Hamilton supports

Jefferson

Burr is elected Vice-

President

12th Amendment

1800 Election demonstrated the

inadequacy of the Constitution

Proposed the separate balloting of

president and vice-president

Washington, D.C.

1791- Pierre L’Enfant, a

French architect,

designed the layout of

the city

He fought in the

American Revolution

He, along with

Washington, designed

the White House

District of Columbia

Adams was the first to move in, 1800

Jefferson first full-term president to live in the White House

DC stands for District of Columbia. It is called District of Columbia, because it was built on land of the Territory of Columbia, a 10 square mile piece of land, that used to be part of Virginia and Maryland. The territory of Columbia was named such after Christopher Columbus.

Jefferson’s Inaugural Address

Stressed the limited

government

Support of states’ rights

Preservation of civil

liberties

“Peace, commerce and

friendship with all nations,

and entangling alliances

with none”

Jefferson rode his own horse to

the inauguration to prove he was

different.

Jeffersonian Democracy

Goals -liberty

-equality

-strong local government

-reduce national debt

-agriculture based economy

-expand U.S. territory

-anti-war

Reality

-racist

-loose interpretation

of Constitution

-regulated national

economy

-led U.S. to brink of

war

Events Leading to the Louisiana

Purchase

1800 Spain gives France (Napoleon) back the Louisiana territory

1803-Napoleon loses interest in American empire

Spanish officials still in New Orleans – closed New Orleans to Americans

Jefferson feared the threat of an imperial power and possible trade restrictions on the Mississippi

Jefferson sends ministers to France to purchase New Orleans and West Florida – they ended up with the entire territory

Constitutional Question No clause explicitly stated that a president could

purchase foreign land

Jefferson submits the purchase agreement to

Senate arguing the lands could be added to U.S.

as an application of the Presidential power to

make treaties

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Scientific exploration of

the Louisiana Territory

Strengthened U.S.

Claims to Oregon

Improved American

Indian Relations

Developed maps for

settlers and fur trappers

John Marshall

Federalist appointed

by Adams before

leaving office

His decisions

strengthen the role of

the Supreme Court at

the expense of state’s

rights

Marbury v. Madison

Jefferson wanted to block the appointment of “midnight judges” by Adams

Directed Madison to refuse to deliver the commission to William Marbury

Marbury sued – does not get his commission

Marshall Ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional

By ruling a law of Congress unconstitutional Marshall established the doctrine of “judicial review”

Supreme Court could now overrule actions of the other two branches – extended their power

Aaron Burr

Not re-elected – plotted against

Jefferson with his party “Quids”

Federal Conspiracy

Burr planned to win governorship of New York

and unite 5 New England states to form a

Northern Confederacy

Burr was defeated in New York

conspiracy failed upon Burr’s defeat

Burr angered by Hamilton’s

remarks – they duel- Hamilton dies

Aaron Burr (cont.)

Burr leaves after Hamilton’s death goes to New Orleans

Burr conspires with Gen. Wilkinson – either to establish an independent republic or seizure of territory in Spanish America

Tried for treason – not guilty – ruined his career and reputation

Jefferson’s Second Term

Difficulties Abroad

•Challenges to U.S. Neutrality

•Britain and France regularly seize the ships of neutral nations and confiscate cargo – chief offender Britain

•Britain is capturing American sailors and impressing (forcing) them to serve in British navy

Chesapeake-Leopard Affair

British ship Leopard

fired on U.S. ship

Chesapeake

3 Americans killed; 4

others impressed into

British navy

Anti-British sentiment

HIGH

Embargo Act 1807

Reaction to French and British violations of neutrality

Prohibited American merchant ships from sailing to any foreign port

Jefferson hoped British would stop violating the rights of neutral nations rather than lose U.S. trade

Embargo backfired – hurt U.S. economy

Jefferson’s Presidential

Record

First Term

Reduced the size of federal government, repealed excise taxes, lowered the national debt by a third

Louisiana Purchase – doubled the size of the country

Second Term

Foreign affairs preoccupied Jefferson - Napoleonic wars -attempted to avoid a policy of either appeasement or war by the use of economic pressure –which was a failure

Non-Intercourse Act 1809

Jefferson repeals Embargo Act

U.S. ships can now trade with all nations

except Britain and France

President can authorize trade with Britain

or France when they cease violating

neutrality rights

Jefferson leaves office –

continues precedent set by

Washington

James Madison will be his

successor in the “Virginia

dynasty”