Thomas Jefferson3rd President

Democratic-Republican

1801-1807

Key Words:

Marbury v. Madison =

Date and Significance of the

Louisiana Purchase =

Lewis and Clark Expedition =

Embargo Act =

Basic Political Beliefs =

-He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

-He served as minister to France.

-He was Washington’s Secretary of State.

-He supported states’ rights and opposed the Federalists. He supported agriculture and small businesses.

THE JEFFERSONIAN ERA

• Election of 1800 pitted Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican Party vs. John Adams and his Federalist Party

• While Jefferson defeated Adams by 8 electoral votes, he tied his running mate, Aaron Burr

• For six days the House of Reps took vote after vote until 36 votes later – Jefferson prevailed (Led to 12th Amendment)3rd President of the U.S.

1800 Election Results

SIMPLIFYING THE GOVERNMENT Jefferson’s theory of

government, known as Jeffersonian Democracy, held that simple, limited government was the best for the people (“laissez faire” – government does not interfere)

Jefferson decentralized the government, cut costs, reduce bureaucracy, and eliminate taxes

Jefferson Memorial

JOHN MARSHALL AND THE POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT

• Before leaving office, John Adams (2nd President), attempts to “pack” the Federal courts with Federalists Judges

• Jefferson argued this was unconstitutional

• Supreme Court Chief Justice Marshall rules in Marbury v. Madison (1803) that part of the Judicial Act was unconstitutional

• Established principle of Judicial Review – the ability of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE• By 1803, French leader

Napoleon had abandoned his dreams of an American Empire

• He needed money to fight European wars, so he accepted Jefferson’s offered of $15,000,000

• More than doubled the size of our country

• Lewis and Clark ordered to go explore new territory

Lewis and Clark Expedition• Their job was to:

• Explore the Louisiana Purchase

• Map it

• Record the landscape, animals, and plants

• Establish good relationships with Native Americans

• They hoped to find a water route across the continent.

Meriwether Lewis

Sacagawea• After spending the winter of 1804

with the Mandan Indians, Lewis and Clark continued their expedition with a guide.

• Sacagawea was a 17-year-old Shoshone Indian and wife of a French trapper.

• Her language and geography skills proved to be a great value for the expedition.

William Clark (left) and Meriwether Lewis (centre) with Sacagawea, detail from Lewis and Clark at Three Forks, oil painting by Edgar Samuel Paxson, 1912.

Think about it.• 1. Washington warnings in his farewell address.

What were they?

• 2. The amount of trade the U.S. did overseas.

• 3. Was it possible for us to stay out of foreign affairs when were constantly involved in trading with foreign countries?

Jefferson’s Foreign Policy• His Expectations:

• To concentrate on domestic concerns at home.

• Grateful to be far away from the chaos (war) happening in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

• Message to U.S. citizens:

• Seek friendship with all nations, but to enter into “entangling alliances with none.”

Problems with France and England• The British (by 1805), did not want the U.S.

supplying goods to France (cutting off their enemies’ supplies).

• They set up a partial blockade, only allowing some U.S. ships to bring provisions to Europe.

• Britain interfered with trade also by the impressment, or kidnapping, of U.S. sailors to work on British ships.• about 6,000 U.S. sailors from 1803 to 1812.

An Act of Congress• Congress passed the Embargo Act of 1807.

• 1. U.S. ships were no longer allowed to sail to foreign ports.

• 2. U.S. ports were closed to British ships.

• Jefferson’s policy proved to be a disaster; more harmful to the U.S. than the British or French.-Farmers and

merchants were hurt the most.

-Shippers lost income as well.

Many chose to violate the embargo by making false claims about their destination.

The Embargo Act

Election of 1808• The embargo was a major issue in the election.

• James Madison (friend to Jefferson) won the election.

• By the time he took office, Congress had repealed the embargo.

• Madison’s solution: the U.S. can trade with any country EXCEPT France and Britain.

• France & Britain had to learn to respect us.

• But his way proved no more effective than the embargo.