Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency

1801-1809

The Beginning• March 4, 1801– Thomas Jefferson is the

first President inaugurated in the new capital city of Washington D.C.

– Jefferson brings his simple and laid back style to the presidency.

– He delivers his first inaugural address. This address outlines what he feels are the essential principles of government.

First Inaugural Address

• Essential Principles of Government– “equal and exact justice to all men”– “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with

all nations”– “the support of state governments”– “the preservation of general government”– punishment for those who choose to revolt– compliance with the decisions of the majority

First Inaugural Address

• Essential Principles of Government Cont…– “a well disciplined militia” (reduce navy)-why?– honest payment of debts– maintaining a sound economy– proper distribution of information– freedom of religion– freedom of the press– we are ALL republican and federalist

Undo-Federalist Policy

• The Sedition Act had expired, but President Jefferson Pardoned all who were in jailed or fine because of this Act.

• Alien act: was changed by the “naturalization act of 1802,” which returned the time an immigrant had to wait to become citizen to 5 years.

• What about the Economic policies of hated Hamilton?– Under the new secretary of treasury Albert

Gallatin, president Jefferson:• Kept the bank of the United States• Raised the Tariff• Repealed only the tax, as Jefferson felt it affected only

low income Americans. This cost the government about a million dollars in revenue. • Was able to reduce debt by keeping a tight and

balanced budget.

– Jefferson kept most of Hamilton’s Economic Policies, including parts of the Hamilton Plan.

– Believed in Laissez-Faire and free market policy.

Madison Vs. Marbury• President Adams passed the Judiciary act of 1801, this

appointed many new judges to high courts around the country. Including the very Federalist chief justice, John Marshall.

• When Jefferson took office he asked his secretary of state James Madison to “shelve” some of the designations. The federalist William Marbury sued James Madison. The Judiciary Act of 1789, stated that the supreme court had to settle disputes between government officials. However, Judge Marshall dismissed the case claiming that the task assigned by the Act of 1789 was unconstitutional.

• In this self-denying verdict, Marshall claimed that the supreme court should not settle disputes between officials. This verdict strengthened the Supreme Court and create Judicial Review.

• Under Judicial Review, it is the supreme court’s task to determine if a law is constitutional or not. – This undermined Jefferson’s Kentucky and Virginia

Resolution which said it was up to the state to determine the constitutionality of a law.

Barbary Wars• May 1801– Pasha of Tripoli

informally declares war with the US because President Jefferson refused to continue to pay for protection.

– On the 20th Peaceful Jefferson had to send the first naval fleet to the area.

– After intermittent fighting, the US wins. Jefferson commissions the building of tiny gunboats to protect US coast.

Map of the Barbary WarsOriginal Map can be found at:

http://www.mariner.org/usnavy/caption_pages/06a_BarbaryWars.htm

Louisiana Purchase

• Napoleon convinced the Spanish to give the Louisiana territory to the French. Why?

• The US does not find out until the access to New Orleans is shut. Would you want Napoleon as your neighbor?

• Jefferson sends Monroe to join Livingston in Paris to buy New Orleans and any land west of Mississippi for $10 million.– What if the French denied? Prepare for war? Seek alliances?

• France loses control of its most profit producing colony- Haiti• Napoleon decided to sell Louisiana to the US, needs money

to maintain empire and War with Britain.

Louisiana Purchase• April 30, 1803

– Robert Livingston & James Monroe signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in Paris

– The United States paid $15 million for the land, roughly 4 cents per acre

– The purchase added 828,00 square miles of land west of the Mississippi to the United States

– July 4 the Louisiana Purchase is publicly announced

Original treaty can be found at: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals_iv/sections/louisiana_purchase_treaty.html

Maps of the Louisiana Purchase

The original maps can be found at: http://www.washington.edu/uwired/outreach/cspn/hstaa432/lesson_4/louisiana.html

Lewis and Clark Expedition

• January 18, 1803– Jefferson asks Congress

for funds to explore the land west of the Mississippi

– His goal is to find a water route to the Pacific

• May 1804– Meriwether Lewis and

William Clark depart on the expedition Map of Lewis and Clark’s Route

Original map can be found at:

http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/archive/maptrack_b.html

Lewis and Clark Expedition

• 34 people parted including their Shoshone guide: Sacajawea

• 1 explorer died in Iowa.

• 2.5 year expedition- horses and walking.

• Important observations- wildlife, territory, resources, inhabitants.

• Reached the pacific.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

• January 18, 1803– Jefferson sends a secret

message to congress regarding the Lewis and Clark Expedition

– In this message Jefferson asks for permission to establish trading with the Indians

– The original message can be found at: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=17

Embargo Act of 1807

• 1803 - Renewal of the Napoleonic Wars between France and Great Britain

• America was once again trapped between the two nations

• Jefferson wanting to stay neutral proposed an embargo on all foreign trade

• This was highly unsuccessful and devastated the American Economy

• The Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 was put in place to repeal the unsuccessful Embargo Act

Second Inaugural Address

• Delivered on March 4, 1805• Stresses the importance of American

neutrality in matters of foreign affairs• Outlines the Louisiana Purchase and the

processes by which the original inhabitants of the land will become citizens of the United States

• Stresses the importance of harmony amongst all inhabitants of America