Thomas Jefferson 1801-1809

Background: • D.O.I. • Sec. of State under

Washington• VP under Adams– Democratic Republican • Debates on National Bank

& VA / KY Resolutions (Alien & Sedition Act)

Revolution of 1800

• Tie with Aaron Burr for POTUS

• Win POTUS with vote from Congress 12th amendment

• Peaceful transfer of power

1st actions

• Pardoned those serving time under the Sedition Act

• Removed the excise tax• Balanced budget and reduced

the national debt (Albert Gallatin Sec. of Treasury)

Judiciary Act 1801

• Passed by a Federalist dominated Congress

• “Midnight Judges” - Packed newly created judgeships with Fed backing men, so as to prolong their legacy

• Chief Justice John Marshall (Federalist) – Marbury vs. Madison 1803

“judicial review”

Click on my head to watch

a clip

Louisiana Purchase• 1800 – Napoleon gains LA land from

Spain• 1802 – Spain w/drew right to NOLA

guaranteed by the Pinckney Treaty 1795

• 1803 – Jefferson send Monroe & Livingston to buy NOLA & as much land as they could for $10 mill. – Napoleon offer all of LA land for

$15mill [3cents an acre] (wanted $$ for war & to get out of Western Hemisphere … issues in Haiti [Toussaint L’ Ouverture])

Outcome of LA Purchase • Doubles size of US• Gain full control of the Mississippi & NOLA• Created a precedent of acquisition of foreign territory through purchase

Lewis & Clark & Sacajawea • Explored & recorded info from the new territory… explored to the Pacific

Ocean (exploration of Oregon Territory later gives US claim to land)

Political Drama

• Federalists tried to scheme with Aaron Burr to make New England and New York secede from the union

• Hamilton called Burr “a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government “

• Burr & Hamilton met in a duel & Hamilton died – Burr arrested for treason (but did not

meet definition of treason … need two witnesses and none could be found – acquitted)

Jefferson wins election of 1804

Trade

• US trade was poor due to ongoing war with France and Britain (Napoleonic Wars) – Napoleon ordered the seizure of

all ships entering British ports– Impressments of US sailors

(~6,000 from 1801-1811)

THAT’S IT!

We will no longer sell

ANYTHING to ANYONE!

That’ll show ‘em who’s

boss!

A few days later…

BOO!!!

Embargo Act 1807 • Forbade the export of all goods from

the US!! • To stop British and French seizure of

US ships

• Results: – Hurt merchants instead of protecting

them – Illegal trade (smuggling) became

rampant – Act repealed March 1809 (3 days

before Jefferson left office & replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act … reopened trade with everyone ECXEPT England & France)

Thomas Jefferson

(1743-1826)• Born in Virginia to a wealthy and distinguished family.•Attended College of William and Mary•Built his home, “Monticello,” when he was 26.•Married Martha Wayles Skelton•Owned 200 slaves.•Practiced law.

Jefferson says…• “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are

endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these

are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

-Declaration of Independence, 1776

Who is Sally Hemings??

Video

Jefferson’s Legacy

• Jefferson believed that individuals were entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and if authorities became tyrannical or oppressive it was society’s obligation to revolt.

• Jefferson’s political ideology is still in use today, 175 years later.

On slavery…• Jefferson was an outspoken abolitionist, but he

owned many slaves over his lifetime. Although these facts seem baffling, biographers point out that Jefferson was deeply in debt and had encumbered his slaves by notes and mortgages; he could not free them until he was free of debt, which never happened.

• “We have the wolf by the ears; we can no longer hold him, nor safely let him go. Justice is in one scale, and

self-preservation in the other.”-Thomas Jefferson on slavery