The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic Chapter 11.
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Transcript of The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic Chapter 11.
The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian RepublicChapter 11
The Election of 1800 Republican
electors, attempting to name both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr
Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election
Congress chooses Jefferson
Jefferson Different concept of role of Govt
Walked to inaugural Many feared worst
“Vile, Godless” “Worthless, dishonest” Federalists feared massive change
towards mob rule Adams refused to attend inaugural
Attempt to reassure “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists” Caps added later (draft used lower case,
Jefferson meant it as a philosophical distinction), media probably saw it as partisan statement about blending parties
Wanted to govern a united people Much more activist than Adams Followed by Madison and Monroe of similar
opinions Federalists gone by 1820 as a party of
national significance
Jefferson (cont.) Personally very different from
previous Presidents Deist, doubted many
Christian doctrines Early support of French
Revolution controversial Fathered children (at least
one, per DNA analysis) by Sally Hemings (slave at Monticello) - interesting fact, Sally herself was the daughter of Jefferson’s father in law, and light enough to pass for white
Conflicted, slave owner, believed slavery could not endure in America
Jefferson’s Political Positions
Feared high taxes, standing Army and political corruption threatened American Liberty
Government as servant of the people vice master Believed farmers most virtuous, honest, cities
breeding grounds of deceit, self interest Saw his election as “revolution”
To restore liberty, tranquility of his youth Angered by Hamilton financial nationalism and Adams’
Alien and Sedition Acts Disliked the concept of a national debt Placed economy ahead of national military
preparedness (cut Army size, funding) Did use Navy effectively against Barbary pirates in 1801
(explain), but that was also an economic decision (war cost about half of annual tribute pre-war)
Judiciary Issues No Republicans on Federal
Bench Federal Judiciary Act of 1801 last
straw (decreased justices from 6 to 5 , passed by a still Federalist dominated Congress), would have kept Jeff. From appointing a Justice (who would of course have been Republican)
Act also created 16 new Federal judgeships, all filled by Adams with Federalists just before leaving office to assure Jefferson would have to deal with Federal judiciary controlled by federalists “midnight appointments”
Jefferson won Congressional repeal of Act in 1802 after new Congress convened
Marbury v. Madison Marbury last minute Federalist
Justice of peace appointment for D.C., appointment was not delivered by Adams before term expired
New Sec of State (Madison) refused to deliver appointment
Marbury petitioned Supreme Court for a writ forcing delivery of appointment
Decision written by (ardent Federalist and Chief Justice) John Marshall
Several landmark issues Marshall lectured Madison (and
through him, his boss, Jefferson) on the “Moral” duty to deliver the appointment, enraging Jefferson
Marbury v. Madison (cont.) Jefferson also refused to order
delivery on grounds that the Act granting Supreme Court the right to issue such a writ was “repugnant to the Constitution, and as such is no law” “unconstitutional”
Established principle of Judicial review (That the Court could declare an Act of Congress void if it violated their interpretation of Constitutionality
Brought Court to equal status with Executive and Legislative branches “checks and balances”
Impeachment as Judicial Control Republicans tried to remove
two Federal judges through impeachment one (Pickering) was insane
and an alcoholic other (Chase) was Supreme
Court Justice Had been extremely partisan
against Republicans using Sedition Act of 1798
Not guilty of crime or other impeachable offense, just repugnant to the new majority Republicans
Pickering was removed, Chase wasn’t
no more Federal Judge impeachment for 50 years
The Louisiana Purchase Spain ceded Louisiana to France
(and Napoleon), 1800, new fears in America Would Brits (Canada) and French,
limit growth of America? Would Brits refuse French
cooperation (likely) and seize New Orleans (and Louisiana) before French could take control?
Reality: Napoleon wanted a French Caribbean empire centered on St. Domingue, using Louisiana as source of food and supply Slave revolt in St. Domingue
(Santo Domingo) led by Toussaint L’Overture made this problematic
Malaria and rebelling slaves made it impossible
The Problem All western produce and commerce was down Mississippi/Ohio system to Gulf for transport
Needed to unload at New Orleans for transport via ocean going ships
1802 - Spanish colonial administrator revoked the right of deposit for US cargos at New Orleans (most assumed Napoleon had issued the order, he had not)
The Solution Jefferson nominates Monroe and
Livingston to negotiate with France for New Orleans and as much of Louisiana and Spanish Florida as they could get
Napoleon decides new Caribbean Empire isn’t worth human cost and needs $ for renewed European hostilities, decides to sell all of Louisiana
Price settled at 15 million dollars (3 ½ cents/acre)
Jefferson doubts constitutionality of the purchase asks for amendment authorizing purchase, and controlling settlement in the new land
No one else shares the concern, (except some token Federalist concern that the new land might decrease importance their eastern seaport strongholds) amendment is dropped, land purchase made, doubling size of the United States
Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Meriwether Lewis
(Crash courses in Botany, zoology, astronomy), Jefferson’s personal secretary
William Clark - career Army officer, second in charge
Mission: Explore as far west as possible Seek water route across
continent Explore/catalogue geographical,
zoological, mineralogical nature of new land
Up Miss/Missouri system to Yellowstone, over Bitterroot range of Rockies to Snake River to Columbia to the pacific at (now) Astoria, Washington
Spent winter at Fort Clatsop, returned 1806, with maps, drawings, specimens.
One death of 50 members - of a ruptured appendix!
Helped by Sacagawea, Shoshone wife of Charbonneau, French trapper
Election of 1804 Burr dumped from
ticket by party, 12th amendment passed 1804, largely due to Burr’s tying up the election of 1800 in the House
Federalists are crushed, losing even Massachusetts
Beginning of end for Federalists as viable party
Burr and Hamilton Plans for “Northern
Confederacy” (NY, New England states, PA) brainchild of “High (extreme) Federalists”, Burr and Sen. Pickering of Mass. Remember Aaron Burr was
Republican Vice President under Jefferson in first term
With Burr as leader, plan to get Burr elected Governor of New York as first step
Burr thwarted again by Hamilton, who allowed publishing of his (Hamilton’s) “despicable” opinion of Burr’s character, leading to Burr’s defeat in NY gubernatorial race
Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, killed him, July 11, 1804
More Trouble for Burr Next, Burr conspired with corrupt
Louisiana territorial governor (Wilkinson) and Irish Immigrant planter Harman Blennerhassett to form states South of the Ohio into a Southern Confederacy, independent from the U.S.
Burr deserted by Wilkinson Burr caught, tried for treason Chief Justice Marshall insisted
upon strict reading of treason per Constitution
Jefferson irate, wanted Burr hanged
Verdict recorded by Marshall as “not guilty”
Burr flees to Europe where he made even more enemies
The Embargo Act, 1807 (the original really really bad idea)
Jefferson’s solution to foreign trade issues
prohibited exports from US ports
minor damage to British and French sales worldwide
huge negative impact on US economy 30,000 seamen out of work US exports down 50% in one
year many merchants in bankruptcy many blamed Jefferson agricultural exports down to
almost nothing The Embargo reflected
Jefferson’s lack of appreciation for the essentiality of foreign trade to New England’s Economy
Election of 1808 even though embargo angered many,
James Madison was elected (also Republican, also Virginian, friend of Jefferson)
James Madison (5 ft 4 compared to Jefferson’s 6 ft 2 in) equally intellectual, realized Agricultural
exports critical to nation’s trade survival 1809 - Embargo Act replaced with the
Non-Intercourse Act of 1809) weaker than the Embargo authorized Congress to restore trade
with either if they restored neutral rights, neither bought it
Macon’s Bill (number 2) Opened trade with French and British,
promised if either removed their blockage of Neutral shipping (the US ships) they would stop trading with the other nation
Foreign Policy Under Madison The first year of Madison's
Administration, the United States prohibited trade with Britain and France
May, 1810, Congress authorized trade with both, directing the President, if either would accept America's view of neutral rights, to forbid trade with the other nation
Napoleon pretended to comply Late in 1810, Madison proclaimed
non-intercourse with Great Britain "War Hawks," pressed for a more
militant policy British impressment and seizure
of cargoes impelled Madison to give in June 1, 1812, he asked Congress to
declare war