The New Nation:

The Jeffersonian Era

Thomas Jefferson

Political Parties Review

Federalists• Followers of Hamilton

• Manufacturing

• Strong federal gov’t

• Loose interpretation of the Constitution

• Preferred Britain

• Believed “the best people”should run the government.

• For Bank of the U.S.

• Tariffs

• Supported by lawyers, merchants, manufacturers and clergy

Democratic-Republicans• Followers of Jefferson

• Farming

• Limited Government

• Strict interpretation of the

constitution

• Preferred France

• Believed in the “noble

farmer” & democracy for all.

• Bank is unconstitutional

• Free Trade

• Farmers & trades-people

• Called Republicans*

Topics of debate

• War with France???John Adams did not declare war and this caused the

Federalist party to split:

Supporters of Adams – FederalistsSupporters of Hamilton – High Federalists

• Alien and sedition actsHigh Federalists argued that these laws were

important to keep out European spies.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• Republicans’ response to the Alien and Sedition acts.

• These resolutions claimed that states had the right to nullify – or cancel – a law that is unconstitutional. (10th

Amendment)

• Only KY and VA passed these resolutions. (Written by Jefferson and Madison)

• These resolutions set up the arguments for states’ rights.

The Election of 1800

• Republicans supported Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr for President and Vice-President

• Federalists supported John Adams and Charles Pinckney.

• Hamilton – convinced supporters to vote for Pinckney instead of Adams…this causes a tie for President between Jefferson and Burr with 73 electoral votes.

Tie Breaker• According to the Constitution, the House of

Representatives votes on a tie in the electoral college.

• Federalists decided to vote for Burr over the “dangerous” Jefferson.

• Vote is taken 36 times over six days.

• Alexander Hamilton finally convinces enough people to support Jefferson – he feels he is less dangerous than Aaron Burr.

Effects of the Election of 1800

• Federalist party never regains power.

• Beginning of a feudbetween Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.

• 12 Amendment is passed: votes for President and Vice-President cast separately.

Jefferson’s New Policies

1. Allows Alien and Sedition Acts to expire.

2. Repealed Whiskey Tax

3. Laissez faire – “let alone”

-- Jefferson believed in a Free market economy with little government control.

-- Secretary of Treasury, Albert Gallatin, reduced the size of the U.S. Government and military.

Jefferson’s “Old” Policies

Wanted to make peace between political parties: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”

1. Keeps the Bank of the United States

2. Continues to pay off debts of the States with Federal money.

3. Keeps many Federalists in their positions.

Marbury v Madison

• Background Information:

• John Adams & Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 before Jefferson was inaugurated.

• Law increased the number of federal judges, and Adams spent his last few months getting Federalists appointed to the positions and approved by Congress.

• Not all appointments were made when Jefferson told Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver any more.

Marbury vs. Madison – The Issue

William Marbury did not receive his appointment and petitioned the Supreme Court saying the Judiciary Act of 1789 gave them the power to

decide.

He wanted the Supreme Court to force James Madison to give him his commision.

John Marshall

• Appointed Chief Justice by John Adams

• Federalist

• Believed in increasing the power of the Supreme Court and Judicial Branch.

Decision

• The Judiciary Act of 1789 is unconstitutional – it did not give them the power to decide this case.

This means – William Marbury does not get his commission.

BUT: by saying the law was unconstitutional, Marshall established the power of JUDICIAL REVIEW.

JUDICIAL REVIEW1. The Constitution is the supreme law.2. When there is conflict between a law & the

Constitution, the Constitution is correct.3. The judicial branch decides if laws are

constitutional.Significance:

• Made the Judicial Branch stronger.• Created an even greater balance of power

between the branches of government.

1803 – Louisiana Purchase

• Spain returned New Orleans to France

• France needed money for their war with England. Jefferson offered to buy New Orleans.

• Napoleon offered all of the Louisiana Territory for $15 million.

• Jefferson justified this with the powers of the government to make treaties.

Effects of the Louisiana Purchase

• Doubled the size of the United States

• Secured trade on the Mississippi River.

• Accurate maps of the west created by explorers.

• Raises concerns:– Eastern states don’t want to lose power.

– What are the Native Americans like? How do we protect it?

– Is slavery legal there?

The Corps of Discovery

• Expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and 40 men.

• Mapped a route to the Pacific Ocean

• Made contact with Native American tribes.

• Took notes on geography and wildlife in the Louisiana Territory.

Sacagawea

• Shoshone Indian

• Translated for Lewis and Clark expedition

• Guided them on their quest to map a path to the Pacific Ocean.

“Our journey would have ended in failure without her aid”

Zebulon Pike

• Sent to find the source of the Red and Missouri Rivers.

• Explored Louisiana Territory south and west of St. Louis Pikes Peak

The Barbary Coast Pirates• Jefferson refused to pay

tributes to Tripoli.

• Tripoli declared war on the U.S.

• After two years, we signed a peace treaty – it included a $60 thousand payment for US hostages.

More Problems at Sea

Jefferson wanted to maintain peace with other nations, with no alliances. However…

1. England and France began to seize American ships that traded supplies with the other country.

2. Britain would kidnap American sailors and force them to work on their ships.

Impressment: Forced service in another country’s navy.

• Over 6,000 Americans were kidnapped from 1803-1812, and impressed into the British Navy.

Embargo Act of 1807Jefferson placed an embargo on trade to ALL foreign

countries to protect US ships & to avoid war.

Embargo – a complete stop of trade.

This law hurt Americans more than the French and English & was repealed.

This law was replaced in 1809 with the

Non-Intercourse Act which banned trade with England, France, and their colonies

Election of 1808• James Madison is elected the 4th

President.

• Democratic-Republican

• State of Virginia

• “Father of the Constitution”; Author of the Bill of Rights

• Member of House of Reps.; Secretary of State

Tecumseh

• Shawnee Chief

• Hoped to unite all Native American tribes.

• Provided weapons by the British.

“The white people have no right to take the land from the Indians, because the Indians had it first.”

Battle of Tippecanoe

• Indiana Territory Gov. William Henry Harrison is attacked while Tecumseh is away.

• Native Americans led by “The Prophet”

• U.S. Army troops are victorious.

Macon’s Bill• Solution to trade issues with France and

Britain.

• Offered to continue the Non-Intercourse Act against the enemy of whichever country agreed to honor American neutrality.

• France agreed.

• THIS MEANS we will continue the Non-Intercourse Act with England.

War Hawks

• Pro-War

• Republicans

• Henry Clay – KY

• John C. Calhoun – SC

• Felix Grundy – TN

• Peter Porter - NY

Opposition to War

1. New England Federalists – Favored trade with Britain.

2. Merchants – Losing money from lack of trade.

• June 1, 1812: Madison asks Congress to declare war.

• June 16: England honors neutrality.

• June 18: Congress votes in favor of war.

Major Battles

“The Star Spangled Banner”

• Poem Written by

Francis Scott Key

• Written about the

British assault on Ft. McHenry outside of

Baltimore, MD

• Basis of the National

Anthem

Hartford Convention

• December, 1814 meeting of Federalists in Hartford, CT

• Threatened secession if the war continued.

• News of peace arrived during their convention.

• Federalist party’s reputation becomes even weaker.

Treaty of Ghent

•Ends War of 1812

•Restored pre-war conditions

Did not mention impressments or neutrality.

Did not settle northern border disputes.