the jeffersonian presidency. the election of 1800 thomas jefferson john adams

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