Post on 15-Dec-2015
The The Jeffersonian Jeffersonian
PresidencyPresidency
The Election of 1800The Election of 1800
Thomas Jefferson John Adams
The Election of 1800The Election of 1800
• Issues:– The Alien and Sedition Acts– Hamilton’s financial system– “character issues”
The Election of 1800The Election of 1800
Results:
Tie between TJ and Burr
No winner in the Electoral College
Multiple ballots in the House
Role of Hamilton
Persuades Federalists in NY to abstain
Gives TJ enough States to win House vote
““The Revolution of 1800”The Revolution of 1800”
Democrat-Republican victory First peaceful transition of power from one party to
the other in history
Beginning of the end for the Federalist Party
The Moderation of Thomas JeffersonThe Moderation of Thomas Jefferson
Kept most of the Hamiltonian system
Kept the tariff and the Bank of the United States
Dropped only the tax on whiskey
TJ vs. the Supreme CourtTJ vs. the Supreme Court
• Role of Chief Justice John Marshall
• Last Federalist in power• Use of strong federal power • “Loose” interpretation of the Constitution• Drama Alert: he and Jefferson are 2nd cousins
Marbury v. Madison (1803)Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Marbury promised a Justice of the Peace position in Vermont (one of Adams’ “midnight appointments”)
Jefferson instructs new
Secretary of State Madison
not to deliver it.
Judicial ReviewJudicial Review
Marshall rules in favor of Marbury
First use of “judicial review”
(the ability of the Courts to rule on acts of the President or of Congress)
Expansion of
federal power
TJ Retaliates Against the TJ Retaliates Against the Court!Court!
• The impeachment of Samuel Chase– Republicans disagreed with handling of a trial
of a Pennsylvania farmers’ tax revolt– “high crimes and misdemeanors”
• Impeached by the Republican House• Acquitted by the Senate
– Crisis averted
• Balance of powers preserved– Assures an independent judiciary– Not to be influenced by partisanship
The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase
Original mission:
Purchase of New Orleans and
West Florida for $10m
Napoleon’s offer
Louisiana Territory for $15m
(3 cents an acre)
The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase
Constitutional issues:
No authority in Con. To purchase land
Negotiations done in secret
Accusations by Feds of hypocrisy
TJ’s response:
Proposed Constitutional amendment
DRs ignore it and buy the land
Impact of the Louisiana Impact of the Louisiana PurchasePurchase
Doubled size of the RepublicGained access to the Mississippi River
Ended (hopefully) possibility of re-invasion by Britain
Lewis and ClarkLewis and ClarkPurposes:
To explore and map new territories
To contact the various tribes
Scientific survey
Lewis Clark
The Corps of DiscoveryThe Corps of Discovery
Made up of former Army Regulars
Lewis and ClarkLewis and Clark
• Role of Sacagawea
Impact: size of country established treaties signed with tribes new species discovered led to westward expansion
The “Mosquito Fleet”The “Mosquito Fleet”
• Create a fleet of smaller gunboats• Rationale:
– Less costly– Prevents possible tyranny
Long Term Impact:
less able to defend US against the British
Election of 1804Election of 1804
Jefferson vs. Charles Pinckney
Decline of the Federalist Party:
Less able to attract Western voters
Too elitist
Geographically locked in with New England
Older generation
Renewed Problems with Britain Renewed Problems with Britain (AGAIN!)(AGAIN!)
Renewed impressment of American sailors
British harassment of US trade
Conflicts with Indians in the West
The “Chesapeake-Leopard Incident”
The Embargo Act of 1807The Embargo Act of 1807
• Total ban on trade with all countries• No support for either France or Britain
Reaction to the Embargo ActReaction to the Embargo Act
• Smuggling and piracy• TJ unpopular
Repeal by Congress (Feb. 1807)
Jefferson’s LegacyJefferson’s Legacy
• PositivePositive– LA Purchase– Lewis and Clark– Increased
democratization– Moderation in
governing
• NegativeNegative– “mosquito fleet”– Embargo Act– Attempted
impeachment of SC Justice