Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson: American EnigmaAmerican Enigma

Libertyville HSLibertyville HS

Thomas Jefferson, GeniusThomas Jefferson, Genius True Renaissance ManTrue Renaissance Man

– Politician, writer, scholar, Politician, writer, scholar, inventor, linguist, inventor, linguist, naturalist, archaeologist, naturalist, archaeologist, slave holder, slave holder, mathematician, mathematician, agronomist, philosopher, agronomist, philosopher, horseman, rifleman, horseman, rifleman, diplomat, architect, lawyerdiplomat, architect, lawyer

– Author of Declaration of Author of Declaration of Independence, VA Statute Independence, VA Statute for Religious Freedom, VP, for Religious Freedom, VP, PresidentPresident

Jeffersonian DemocracyJeffersonian Democracy VA aristocrat who VA aristocrat who

believed in believed in republican ideals republican ideals (power of people, no (power of people, no nobility)nobility)

Believed . . .Believed . . .– Capable, well Capable, well

educated leaders educated leaders should govern in the should govern in the people’s interestpeople’s interest

– US should be chiefly US should be chiefly agriculturalagricultural

Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson: Hypocrite?Hypocrite? Was TJ a hypocrite or Was TJ a hypocrite or

a man of his times?a man of his times?– Hypocrite: Author of Hypocrite: Author of

Declaration of Declaration of Independence who Independence who owned slaves, had owned slaves, had children with them?children with them?

– Man of times: other Man of times: other VA people of his VA people of his social class had social class had slaves, VA economy slaves, VA economy wouldn’t work wouldn’t work without slaverywithout slavery

Contemporary painting

President Jefferson: Do As I President Jefferson: Do As I say…say… Activist presidentActivist president

– Although an Anti-Although an Anti-Federalist, once in Federalist, once in power he became power he became advocate for looser advocate for looser interp. Of Constitutioninterp. Of Constitution

– Greatly expanded Greatly expanded power of presidency power of presidency at expense of at expense of CongressCongress

– Politician – walked to Politician – walked to own inauguration to own inauguration to show connection w/ show connection w/ common mancommon man

Banner, 1801 Jefferson Inauguration(“T. Jefferson President of the United

States of America/John Adams is no more.“)

Jefferson: Foreign AffairsJefferson: Foreign Affairs Barbary PiratesBarbary Pirates

– North African Muslim North African Muslim states preyed upon states preyed upon European, US shipping in European, US shipping in MediterraneanMediterranean

– Demanded huge bribes Demanded huge bribes not to attack (up to 20% not to attack (up to 20% of budget!)of budget!)

First Barbary War First Barbary War (1801-05)(1801-05)– US Navy (6 frigates, built US Navy (6 frigates, built

1794), Marines attacked 1794), Marines attacked TripoliTripoli

– NO congressional NO congressional authority for attackauthority for attack

– Pirates backed off (until Pirates backed off (until 1815)1815)

Map, Barbary Coast – c. 1800

Jefferson: Louisiana Jefferson: Louisiana PurchasePurchase Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase

– LA becomes French LA becomes French possession possession

– New Orleans key to New Orleans key to opening middle of opening middle of continent up to exploration, continent up to exploration, trade, W migration (3/8 of trade, W migration (3/8 of US trade out of N.O.)US trade out of N.O.)

– Napoleon’s American Napoleon’s American Empire idea dashedEmpire idea dashed

– Nap. needed cash (“Damn Nap. needed cash (“Damn sugar! Damn tobacco! sugar! Damn tobacco! Damn Western Damn Western Hemisphere!”)Hemisphere!”)

ToussaintL’Ouverture,Haiti

Jefferson: Louisiana Jefferson: Louisiana PurchasePurchase US negotiators offer US negotiators offer

$10 million for $10 million for Florida, New OrleansFlorida, New Orleans

French counter offer: French counter offer: $15 million for entire $15 million for entire LA areaLA area– French rationale: French rationale:

better US than British better US than British control over area!control over area!

Negotiators, to Negotiators, to Jefferson: What do Jefferson: What do we do?!we do?!

Jefferson: Louisiana Jefferson: Louisiana PurchasePurchase Jefferson’s dilemmaJefferson’s dilemma

– No constitutional No constitutional authorityauthority

– No congressional No congressional approvalapproval

– Federalist opposition Federalist opposition to himto him

– Jefferson: DO IT Jefferson: DO IT ANYWAY!!ANYWAY!!

LA PurchaseLA Purchase– $0.03 per acre$0.03 per acre– Didn’t even know how Didn’t even know how

big area was!big area was!

Jefferson: Louisiana Jefferson: Louisiana PurchasePurchase

Lewis and Clark Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-06)Expedition (1804-06)– Jefferson: what did we Jefferson: what did we

just buy?just buy?– Wild, untamed land, Wild, untamed land,

claimed by British, claimed by British, Spanish, etcSpanish, etc

GoalsGoals– Scientific discoveryScientific discovery– Open access to Asian Open access to Asian

markets from W Coastmarkets from W Coast– Fur trade increaseFur trade increase– Est. US military presence Est. US military presence

W of MississippiW of Mississippi

Jefferson: Domestic AffairsJefferson: Domestic Affairs Sedition Act repealed; Sedition Act repealed;

Jefferson pardoned all Jefferson pardoned all convicted under Actconvicted under Act

Challenged Adams’ Challenged Adams’ “midnight judges” in “midnight judges” in Supreme CourtSupreme Court– After 1800 election, Federalist After 1800 election, Federalist

Congress greatly expanded Congress greatly expanded judicial branchjudicial branch

– In last few days of term, In last few days of term, Adams appointed many Adams appointed many judges, including Marburyjudges, including Marbury

– To take office, Sec. of State To take office, Sec. of State had to deliver commissionhad to deliver commission

– Not all commissions delivered Not all commissions delivered when Adams’ term ended; SoS when Adams’ term ended; SoS Madison (Jefferson’s guy) Madison (Jefferson’s guy) never delivered Marbury’s never delivered Marbury’s commissioncommission

Marbury (L), Madison (R)

Marbury v. MadisonMarbury v. Madison (1803) (1803) Marbury asked USSC to Marbury asked USSC to

issue commissionissue commission Chief Justice John Chief Justice John

MarshallMarshall– Ruled that Marbury should Ruled that Marbury should

have received commissionhave received commission– But also ruled that law But also ruled that law

giving USSC authority to giving USSC authority to order SoS to issue order SoS to issue commission was commission was unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Established USSC power Established USSC power of judicial reviewof judicial review John Marshall (Va, CJ 1801-35)

Election of 1804Election of 1804

Jefferson vs. Jefferson vs. PinckneyPinckney– Jefferson had been Jefferson had been

gaining popularitygaining popularity– Won a landslide Won a landslide

over Federalist over Federalist candidatecandidate

Jefferson (D-R): 162 ECV (Pop

vote=72.8%)Pinckney (F): 12 ECV (Pop

vote=18.2%)

Jefferson: 2Jefferson: 2ndnd Term Domestic Term Domestic AffairsAffairs

Burr ConspiracyBurr Conspiracy– Aaron Burr, VP 1Aaron Burr, VP 1stst term term– Very angry at Hamilton Very angry at Hamilton

for giving presidency to for giving presidency to JeffersonJefferson

– While VP, ran for While VP, ran for Governor of NY; Governor of NY; Hamilton bad mouthed Hamilton bad mouthed him, and he losthim, and he lost

– Burr challenged Burr challenged Hamilton to duelHamilton to duel

– Duel storyDuel story

Jefferson: 2Jefferson: 2ndnd Term Domestic Term Domestic AffairsAffairs

Burr, accused of Burr, accused of murder, fled to Westmurder, fled to West

Later resurfaces Later resurfaces amidst rumors of amidst rumors of raising armyraising army– Use to take LA lands Use to take LA lands

from US?from US?– Use to attack Mexican Use to attack Mexican

Empire?Empire? Charged with treason Charged with treason

in 1807, was acquittedin 1807, was acquitted Became lawyer in NYBecame lawyer in NY

Jefferson 2Jefferson 2ndnd Term: Foreign Term: Foreign affairsaffairs British Antagonize USBritish Antagonize US

– Britain didn’t want US Britain didn’t want US to trade with Frenchto trade with French

– British also concerned British also concerned about rapid growth of about rapid growth of US Merchant MarineUS Merchant Marine

– Many British sailors Many British sailors deserted harsh deserted harsh conditions, joined US conditions, joined US merchant marinemerchant marine

– British engaged in British engaged in impressment of US impressment of US sailors, at willsailors, at will

Jefferson: 2Jefferson: 2ndnd Term Domestic Term Domestic AffairsAffairs

Chesapeake-LeopardChesapeake-Leopard Affair Affair (1807)(1807)– ChesapeakeChesapeake a 38 gun US Frigate; a 38 gun US Frigate;

LeopardLeopard, a 50 gun British warship, a 50 gun British warship– Leopard’s captain demanded Leopard’s captain demanded

right to board, inspect right to board, inspect Chesapeake’s crew for deserters Chesapeake’s crew for deserters (refused)(refused)

• Leopard opened fire, killing 3 Leopard opened fire, killing 3 and wounding 18and wounding 18• Chesapeake surrenderedChesapeake surrendered• Four deserters discoveredFour deserters discovered

Jefferson: 2Jefferson: 2ndnd Term Domestic Term Domestic AffairsAffairs

US Reaction to US Reaction to ChesapeakeChesapeake affair affair– Public demanded WAR!Public demanded WAR!– Jefferson opted to close US waters to Jefferson opted to close US waters to

British shipsBritish ships– Also demanded payment for damagesAlso demanded payment for damages– Requested end to British searches for Requested end to British searches for

desertersdeserters– A major cause of War of 1812A major cause of War of 1812

Jefferson: 2Jefferson: 2ndnd Term Foreign Term Foreign AffairsAffairs Orders in Council (British Orders in Council (British

- 1807)- 1807)– British Blockade of British Blockade of

Continental portsContinental ports– Neutrals, allies of British Neutrals, allies of British

prohibited from trading prohibited from trading with Frenchwith French

Berlin & Milan Decrees Berlin & Milan Decrees (French - 1807(French - 1807))– Napoleon: Neutrals, allies Napoleon: Neutrals, allies

of French prohibited from of French prohibited from trading with Britishtrading with British

America was America was squeezed!squeezed!

Jefferson: 2nd Term Foreign Jefferson: 2nd Term Foreign AffairsAffairs

Jefferson response: Jefferson response: Embargo Act (1807)Embargo Act (1807)– We’re not trading with We’re not trading with

ANYONE! (hoped to punish ANYONE! (hoped to punish French, British)French, British)

– Economically devastating Economically devastating to America; exports to America; exports declined from $108 million declined from $108 million in 1806 to $22 million in in 1806 to $22 million in 18081808

– Repealed 1809; replaced Repealed 1809; replaced with Non Intercourse Act, with Non Intercourse Act, restoring trade with all restoring trade with all countries EXCEPT Britain, countries EXCEPT Britain, FranceFrance

Political Cartoon, US Newspaper:“Embargo-O grab me”

Election of 1808Election of 1808 Referendum on TJ’s Referendum on TJ’s

PresidencyPresidency– Madison (SoS)Madison (SoS)– Pinckney (SC)Pinckney (SC)– George Clinton (VP) ran as George Clinton (VP) ran as

Madison’s VP after he lost Madison’s VP after he lost the presidential nominationthe presidential nomination

““Faithless electors”Faithless electors”– Six NY electors voted for Six NY electors voted for

Clinton as Pres.Clinton as Pres.– No effect on election resultNo effect on election resultResult:

Madison: 122 ECV / 124, 732 PVPinckney: 47 ECV / 63,431 PV