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 landJefferson 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

countrySecond 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”