The Jefferson EraThe Jefferson Era

Jefferson Takes OfficeJefferson Takes Office

The Louisiana Purchase and The Louisiana Purchase and ExplorationExploration

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

The smartest American ever?The smartest American ever?

One evening …. JFK was giving a speech at a One evening …. JFK was giving a speech at a dinner to a group of very intelligent and dinner to a group of very intelligent and talented people and told them…..talented people and told them…..

We have more intelligence in this room We have more intelligence in this room tonight than has ever been assembled for tonight than has ever been assembled for one dinner – in the entire history of our one dinner – in the entire history of our country………….. country…………..

except when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.except when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson wanted the 13 colonies to become a nation. He was a good Thomas Jefferson wanted the 13 colonies to become a nation. He was a good writer, so he wrote letters asking people to help the nation become free. He writer, so he wrote letters asking people to help the nation become free. He wrote letter after letter; wrote letter after letter; 50,000 letters50,000 letters during his lifetime. during his lifetime.

He was such a good writer that he was one of five men chosen to write the He was such a good writer that he was one of five men chosen to write the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence. He wanted to be able to think, so he rented a . He wanted to be able to think, so he rented a house and stayed there by himself for 17 days. He searched in his mind for house and stayed there by himself for 17 days. He searched in his mind for just the right words. When he had finished it, he gave it to the Continental just the right words. When he had finished it, he gave it to the Continental Congress, and on July 4, 1776 it was adopted * . The war for freedom; the Congress, and on July 4, 1776 it was adopted * . The war for freedom; the revolution * had started.revolution * had started.

Jefferson was born on the family farm in Virginia to a Jefferson was born on the family farm in Virginia to a wealthy family. He had wealthy family. He had six sisters and three brotherssix sisters and three brothers; a large family indeed.; a large family indeed.

When he was a boy he enjoyed When he was a boy he enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding horses and canoeing. hunting, fishing, riding horses and canoeing. He also loved music and learned to play the violin.He also loved music and learned to play the violin.

His father was his teacher and his parents talked to him about the His father was his teacher and his parents talked to him about the importance of serving others. His importance of serving others. His father died when Thomas was 14father died when Thomas was 14 years old. years old.

When he was When he was 17 he entered college17 he entered college and studied law. He would make a and studied law. He would make a schedule for himself and schedule for himself and study 15 hours or more a daystudy 15 hours or more a day. Because of his hard . Because of his hard work, he was at the head of his class. He soon passed the bar exam * and work, he was at the head of his class. He soon passed the bar exam * and became abecame a lawyer lawyer in Virginia. in Virginia.

He married and built a home called He married and built a home called MonticelloMonticello. Later his wife, Martha, died.. Later his wife, Martha, died.

When George Washington was president, Jefferson was his When George Washington was president, Jefferson was his secretary of statesecretary of state. . Then he served as vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was elected the Then he served as vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was elected the

third presidentthird president of the United States in 1801. of the United States in 1801.

His His wife died 19 years before he became presidentwife died 19 years before he became president, so there was no "First Lady" , so there was no "First Lady" * . Sometimes his daughters served as hostesses * . Dolly Madison, the wife of * . Sometimes his daughters served as hostesses * . Dolly Madison, the wife of

his Secretary of State, was also a popular hostess in the White House.his Secretary of State, was also a popular hostess in the White House.

He knew the country had to grow, so he completed the He knew the country had to grow, so he completed the Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase which doubled the size of the nation.which doubled the size of the nation.

After two terms as president he returned to Monticello and farming. He After two terms as president he returned to Monticello and farming. He grew grew hundreds of different kinds of vegetables and fruit treeshundreds of different kinds of vegetables and fruit trees..

He knew education was important, so he He knew education was important, so he planned the University of Virginiaplanned the University of Virginia. He . He designed the buildingsdesigned the buildings and marked where they should be built. He also and marked where they should be built. He also chose chose

the library books, and even hired the teachersthe library books, and even hired the teachers. The school opened in 1825 with . The school opened in 1825 with 40 students. 40 students.

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson died 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of died 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of IndependenceIndependence..

When Jefferson was running for When Jefferson was running for president – there was a tiepresident – there was a tie

Jefferson and Aaron Jefferson and Aaron Burr each had 73 Burr each had 73 electoral votes.electoral votes.

It took 36 votes in It took 36 votes in congress to decide a congress to decide a winner – Thomas winner – Thomas Jefferson.Jefferson.

Burr thought Alexander Burr thought Alexander Hamilton convinced Hamilton convinced several people in his several people in his own party to vote own party to vote against him and he got against him and he got REAL mad at HamiltonREAL mad at Hamilton

So Burr challenged Hamilton to a So Burr challenged Hamilton to a duelduel

Each man fired at the other. There are Each man fired at the other. There are stories that Hamilton didnstories that Hamilton didn’’t really aim at t really aim at Burr Burr (he couldn(he couldn’’t shoot an old man and t shoot an old man and he was religious)he was religious)

Hamilton was killed.Hamilton was killed.

Jefferson’s goal as President was Jefferson’s goal as President was to try and unite all Americansto try and unite all Americans

• He tried to promote a common way of life.

• He wanted the United States to remain a nation of small, independent farmers.

• He felt such a nation would uphold the strong morals and democratic values of country living.

• Since the nation had a lot of available land, people wouldn’t crowd together in cities (like Europe).

One of the biggest changes in One of the biggest changes in America under Jefferson:America under Jefferson:

The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase

France needed moneyFrance needed money The United States wanted New The United States wanted New

Orleans (a big shipping port) Orleans (a big shipping port) from the French and offered to from the French and offered to buy it (from Napoleon)buy it (from Napoleon)

France didnFrance didn’’t know we mostly t know we mostly wanted New Orleans and wanted New Orleans and offered to sell the whole offered to sell the whole territory to us for what we territory to us for what we wanted to pay for just New wanted to pay for just New Orleans ($15 million)Orleans ($15 million)

This This doubleddoubled the size of the United the size of the United StatesStates

Once we bought it, we needed Once we bought it, we needed to see what we hadto see what we had

Lewis and Clark Lewis and Clark led the first expeditionled the first expedition

Jefferson wanted to have a Jefferson wanted to have a better idea of what he had better idea of what he had bought.bought.

Left in 1804Left in 1804 In North Dakota territory In North Dakota territory

they met Sacagaweathey met Sacagawea Clark brought a slave Clark brought a slave

(York). This was the first (York). This was the first time any Native Americans time any Native Americans saw anyone darker skinned saw anyone darker skinned than them.than them.

Took notes and drew Took notes and drew pictures of everything they pictures of everything they sawsaw

Gone so long everyone Gone so long everyone assumed they died.assumed they died.

Later on… Later on… Meriwether Meriwether LewisLewis

Became governor of Became governor of the Louisiana the Louisiana Territory.Territory.

Suffered from Suffered from depression.depression.

One night – stopped at One night – stopped at a tavern, people heard a tavern, people heard shots during the night.shots during the night.

In the morning when In the morning when they woke up, Lewis they woke up, Lewis was dead and was dead and someone had stolen someone had stolen his stuff.his stuff.

William ClarkWilliam Clark

Became the first Became the first ““Superintendent of Superintendent of Indian Affairs.Indian Affairs.””

Later became Later became governor of the governor of the Louisiana Territory.Louisiana Territory.

Settled down for Settled down for the rest of his life.the rest of his life.

SacagaweaSacagawea

(16 years old and had a 2 month old (16 years old and had a 2 month old baby she took with her).baby she took with her).

Another explorer that we donAnother explorer that we don’’t t hear as much about was hear as much about was

Zebulon PikeZebulon Pike