APUSH – Mr. Hesen

Jefferson’s Presidency and Jeffersonian Democracy

Jefferson as President

• Inaugural speech:– “We are all Republicans,

we are all Federalists”– Sought to bring

moderates into a Republican coalition

– Vowed to maintain Washington’s “non-entanglement” vision

Jefferson as President

• Economic Plans– Kept Hamilton’s plans– Wanted to heal the political

rift between parties– Maintained Bank of U.S.– Retained the tariff– Didn’t tamper with any major

Federalist programs

Jefferson as President• Changes:

– Pardoned many imprisoned under Sedition Act

– Congress enacted new naturalization laws – returned to five years

– Persuaded Congress to repeal excise taxes

– Substantially reduced the national debt

Jefferson as President

• 12th Amendment (1804)– Tied vote between

presidential candidates of the same party could no longer causes confusion

– Provisions: Electors had to specify that they were voting for one presidential candidate and one VP

John Marshall and the SCUS• Judiciary Act of 1801

– One of the last important laws passed by the outgoing Federalist administration

– Federalists created 16 new judgeships

– Adams appointed these judges on his last day (Midnight Judges)

– Jeffersonians charged the Federalists with packing the judicial branch

*******Marbury v. Madison (1803)– One of the most important SCUS decisions– “Midnight Judge” William Marbury sued for the delivery of his

commission– Being held up by the Sec. of State (James Madison)– TJ told Madison to hold the commission– Marshall dismissed the case – did not want to have showdown with

president

Judicial Review– Marshall ruled that

Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional

– Gave courts power to enforce the law – president is the only enforcer

– Marshall gave Supreme Court power to rule a law by Congress unconstitutional

Impeachment of Samuel ChaseJefferson Threatens the SCUS

– Jefferson enraged (again…) that SCUS was strengthened by judicial review

– Congressional Republicans wanted to oust Samuel Chase

– Could not get enough votes in Senate to move forward

– Henceforth no more attempts to reshape the SCUS – enforced separation of powers

Tripolitan War, 1801-05Attack on U.S. ships by pirates from North African states forces TJ’s hand

– Stephen Decatur led U.S. Navy on to Tripoli• First war outside of the

U.S.• Dey of Algiers • Strengthened navy –

development of the “Mosquito Fleet”

The Louisiana Purchase

• Napoleon (France) persuaded Spain to cede Louisiana region to France

• France had to sell territory to pay back revolution debts

The Louisiana Purchase• Louisiana Territory cost the U.S. $15 million…3 cents/acre• Jefferson reluctant to sign treaty

– President didn’t have power to negotiate land acquisitions– Westward looking Americans supported the treaty– Federalists did not approve

• Most important land acquisition in history– Doubled size of the U.S.– Mississippi River and Gulf of

Mexico– Paved way for westward

expansion– Accelerated the rise of U.S. as

economic power– Ended European expansion in

North America– Avoided war with France– Rise in nationalism

• Jefferson interested in water route to Pacific– Meriwether Lewis and William

Clark– Corps of Discovery– Trail extended from Missouri

River through Rocky Mountains– Aided by Sacajawea

(Shoshone) who worked as their translator and envoy

– Jefferson disappointed that route was not found

Essex Junto

Aaron Burr started problems– Pushed for New England secession– Essex Junto – small group of extremist Federalists who wanted to secede from

U.S.• Felt New England was being ignored by Republicans – hated Jefferson

– Hamilton exposed plot– Burr killed Hamilton in a duel (1804)

Burr Conspiracy

• More problems for Burr– 1806 – tried to persuade western Americans to secede from U.S. – Plot was uncovered and Burr arrested– Chief Justice Marshall dropped the case – two witnesses were never

found– Burr went into hiding and became a recluse

Yazoo Land Scandal

- Alleged illegal land transactions in Georgia– Jefferson’s cousin accused him of participating– Georgia wrongfully sold land and then turned it over to govt.– Jefferson and Madison tried to repay the landowners, but the

damage was done– Created strife in Republican party and weakened Jefferson

during second term

Embargo Act of 1807• Needed to punish British for impressment of U.S. sailors• May NOT export to any foreign destination• TJ thought that the Act would make France and Britain

respect U.S.• Enforced Congress’ powers to regulate commerce –

loose interpretation of Con.• Undermined states’ rights

Embargo of 1807

• Terrible failure to U.S. economy• New England was affected the most• U.S. exports:– 1807 - $108 million– 1808 - $22 million– More damaging that British and French threats– Illegal trade began to sprout all over the place

Embargo Act of 1807

• Congress repealed the Act in March 1809• Non-Intercourse Act of 1809– Reopened trade with all nations except Britain and

France– Remained U.S. policy until War of 1812

Reasons for Embargo Failure

• British didn’t need U.S. goods• Wasn’t enforced long enough• Worsened conflict between Britain and France• Undermined by smuggling and illegal acts• Inadvertently began the Industrial Revolution in the U.S.

– New England became self-sufficient– Textile factories grew all over the region

Jefferson’s Legacy• Total defeat of the Federalists

by Election of 1816• Expansion was TJ’s prime

goal!• Creation of a democratic,

non-aristocratic govt.• Kept the U.S. out a European

conflict