The Country’s Greatest President

• For the most part, prior to the War of 1812, the “WAR
HAWKS” in Congress were:
• A) Young
• B) Republicans
• C) From the West and the South
• D) none of the above

• Jefferson believed that the federal government was strong

because:
• A) it had a strong police system to enforce laws
• B) its citizens would fight to keep it free
• C) it had a large standing army
• D) in punished its enemies severely
• Like most sons of land owners, he studied land surveying
• Graduated from William and Mary University in
Williamsburg, VA
• “THE TREE OF LIBERTY MUST BE REFRESHED FROM
TIME TO TIME WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS AND
TYRANTS”
• “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent
the government from wasting the labors of the people under
the pretense of taking care of them.”
• “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from
those who are willing to work and give to those who would
not.”
• “To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of
ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
• Wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence
• Wrote the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom
• Created the University of Virginia
• Served as an ambassador to Europe from the United
States
• Democratic-Republican Candidates:
• Thomas Jefferson – platform – CHAMPION OF THE COMMON
MAN – believed in the everyday person’s ability to take part in
government.
• Aaron Burr – Vice-Presidential running mate
• Federalist Candidates:
John Adams and Charles C. Pinckney
• Adams would have won re-election, perhaps
easily, had Alexander Hamilton not split the
Federalist Party
• John Adams, the 1st President to live in Washington, D.C.,
leaves before Jefferson’s inauguration
• Jefferson’s Inauguration takes place on March 4, 1801 in
Washington, D.C.—the 1st done there
• The unfinished White House and Capitol were just about the
only buildings in town
• Federalists fear what Jefferson will say—will he start a new
revolution?
• Jefferson, surprisingly, calls for unity—he states “We are all
Republicans, we are all Federalists.”
• Jefferson DOES NOT propose to change or destroy the
structure of the federal government.
• In 1802, James Callender (Richmond newspaper writer)
• Jefferson had for many years "kept, as his concubine, one of his own
slaves." "Her name is Sally," Callender continued, adding that Jefferson
had "several children" by her.
• Jefferson – no public statement
• Jefferson’s Death – 1826
• All of Hemings’s children were freed. Hemings herself was freed by
Jefferson’s daughter. Jefferson’s family denied the affair for 175 years.
• Hemings’s son Eston – legally changed last name to Jefferson in
1852.
• Other son Madison (probably named for James) publicly stated
in 1873 that he and his sisters were Jefferson’s children.
• Both lived as a part of white society all of their lives.
• Only source of government income: tariffs and sales of
Western land
• Let the Alien and Sedition Acts expire –
• He had addressed his disagreements with these Acts in the VA &
KY Resolutions – believed that STATES had the RIGHT to
NULLIFY Federal laws
• Marbury vs. Madison:
• Does William Marbury, one of John Adams’ last minute “midnight
judges,” receive his commission to be judge or not?
• Jefferson had James Madison refuse to give the commission to
Marbury
• Issue went before the Supreme Court – Chief Justice was
JOHN MARSHALL – Jefferson’s cousin
• FEDERALIST – detested Jefferson
• Wanted to strengthen his branch of the Federal Government
(JUDICIAL)
• Ruling became a precedent—an example for future court
cases
• Supreme Court declared the Judiciary Act of 1789
UNCONSTITUTIONAL – stated that the SUPREME COURT
did not have jurisdiction in this case
• Established the principle of JUDICIAL REVIEW
• With Marbury vs. Madison, the Supreme Court established
the concept of “Judicial Review” of laws
• Supreme Court may decide if a law is constitutional or not.

• If a law is judged to be unconstitutional, or goes against

the U.S. Constitution, then the law ceases to be a law.
• What was the Louisiana Purchase?

• How do you think Americans felt about the purchase?

• Did the Federalists oppose the Louisiana Purchase for
PRACTICAL or POLITICAL reasons?
• By 1800, the western boundary of the U.S. was the
Mississippi.
• The Louisiana Territory, that is all lands west of the
Mississippi River which drained into the river, was
originally controlled by France.
• As part of losing the French-Indian War, France
ceded, or gave, the Louisiana Territory to Spain
• The Louisiana Territory continued to be controlled by
Spain until 1800.
• A war fought in Europe between Spain and France ended
with a victory for Napoleon and the French.
• Secretly, the Louisiana Territory was transferred from
Spain to France as a result of that European war.
• Jefferson learned that the Louisiana Territory was now
controlled by France – PROBLEM
• French ownership of the Louisiana Territory posed several
problems for the U.S.—mainly the French were popular with the
Indians and the French presence blocked any sort of westward
movement by U.S. citizens into the Louisiana Territory
• French dictator at the time was NAPOLEON
BONAPARTE.
• His motive – to RULE THE WORLD!!!!
• Major problem for America since Jefferson had already
scaled back the US military under his presidency.
• The other major problem involved the city of New Orleans.
New Orleans controlled all river trade. River trade came
from not only the Louisiana Territory, but also from the
United States. If France decided to close the city of New
Orleans to U.S. trade, then the U.S. would suffer great
economic hardship.

• Jefferson realized the problems involved with France

owning the Louisiana Territory.
• Jefferson sends Robert Livingston and James Monroe to buy
New Orleans and West Florida for $2 million from France.
• Livingston and Monroe may spend UP to $10 million
• Napoleon experiences slave rebellion trouble in the
French colony of Saint Domingue located in the
Caribbean.
• T’oussaint L’Overture and slaves revolt and defeat a
major French detachment in Haiti. He is known as the
“Black Napoleon”
• Napoleon abandons his desire to “RULE THE WORLD”
– sets his sights on Europe instead.
• Napoleon also needs money for another war with Great
Britain. He decides to sell ALL of the Louisiana
Territory. His price: $15 million.
• Despite being more money and more land than expected,
both Livingston and Monroe quickly agree to the deal.
• The deal poses a personal problem for Jefferson— is this
real estate deal an example of strict interpretation of the
US Constitution? Does the Constitution give the
government the power to buy land? Is this small
government? Still, Jefferson agrees to the deal.
• Congress debates the issue—lots of money involved—
still, they agree to it.
Meriwether Lewis
• Lewis selects Lt. William Clark as a
co-commander.
• The army refuses to recognize co-
commanders so Clark remains a lieutenant.
• The men of the Corps of Discovery are told
that Clark is a Captain and a co-
commander of the expedition.
• Lewis’ aide de camp was York – his slave
• However they had grown up together
• Lewis and Clark
• depart St. Louis on May 14, 1804 and
travels upriver.
• They stop for the winter of 1805 in the
Mandan villages and create Fort
Mandan. William Clark
• At Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark hire the French
trader Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter
and guide.
• The true prize was Charbonneau’s 2nd wife, Sacagawea
and Sacagawea’s newborn infant son.
• Charbonneau proves useless. Sacagawea, while
not a guide, does prove helpful: no war party
would travel with a woman and young child.
Sacagawea’s presence eases tensions between
Corps of Discovery and the Indians.
• The Corps of Discovery
• reach the Pacific Ocean on November 7, 1805.
• Clark writes: “Ocean in view! O! The joy!”
• The first American vote involving an African-
American (York), a female (Sacagawea), and men of
several different nationalities takes place to decide where
to stay for the winter.
• The Corps of Discovery create Fort Clatsop and
spend the 1806 winter on the Pacific coast.
• They experience problems with the natives.
• The journey becomes a race down the Missouri River.
Lewis and Clark arrive in St. Louis on September 23,
1806.
• They traveled almost 8,000 miles along the journey. They
mapped the entire distance using “line of sight”
approximations. They were off by only 4 miles.
• Zebulon Pike also explores
the western territory.
• Pike reaches the Colorado
area and finds the mountain
which now bears his name:
Pike’s Peak.
• Pike then moves south into
the Spanish territories which
eventually become Texas
and Mexico.
• By 1804, Jefferson was an unquestioned success as a
President. However he faced scandalous rumors of an
amorous affair with his slave girl, Sally Hemings during
the campaign. The rumor gradually died and he was
easily reelected. (1990’s DNA testing confirmed mixed
descendants of Thomas Jefferson)
• Burr decided to run for governor of New York. Hamilton
criticized Burr; Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel; Burr
shoots and kills Hamilton. Burr’s term as Vice President
was not quite over at the time of the duel.
• Pirates from the Barbary Coast States in the
Mediterranean Sea demand tribute ($$ that allows
America to sail and trade – RESPECT) from U.S. trade
ships.
• Jefferson refuses to pay the tribute
• The Barbary pirates from Tripoli declare war on the U.S.
• Jefferson does not want to fight; instead, he orders a
blockade of the port of Tripoli.
• Undeclared “War”
• The blockade eventually works. The U.S. forces the
pirates to sign a peace treaty which ends all tribute
payments.
• The military action is popular in the U.S., but shows the
need for a U.S. navy.
• Jefferson puts aside his own personal problems with the
government paying for a navy, and the country develops
a stronger defense.
• Navy is made up of mostly smaller ships. (Some, docked
in Savannah during a storm were deposited inland,
prompting the Federalists to say “Jefferson’s Navy is
the best in the world….. ON LAND!!)
• Great Britain continues its policy of impressment.
• Impressment --British kidnap U.S. sailors and force them to work as British sailors.
• BRITISH ORDERS IN COUNCIL –
• Passed in 1806 – Blockade of ports to prohibit French and American trade

• FRENCH BERLIN DECREE –

• Passed in 1806 – forbid France to trade with Great Britain
• ECONOMIC WARFARE
• Continuation of Impressment policy of American sailors
• CHESAPEAKE / LEOPARD AFFAIR - 1807
• USS Chesapeake and the British frigate Leopard -- British ship pursued, attacked, and
impressed 4 British “deserters” (who were eventually hanged) and forced the surrender
of the ship.
• Leopard fired several shots at the Chesapeake, eventually let the ship go back to the US
where the captain, James Barron was court-martialed.
• Amped up American desire for war with Britain
• War Hawks – Democratic- Republicans –
• WANT WAR with Britain / young, Southern, Republicans, --
MAIN REASON TO GO TO WAR with Britain – to gain
CANADA
• Jefferson
• deals with the impressment issue by asking Congress for an embargo, or block of
trade, against every country in the world.
• Congress passes the Embargo Act of 1807.
• The main victim of the law was neither Great Britain nor France—it was the U.S.
merchants who could no longer trade ANY country.
• Called “OGRABME” or the “DAMBARGO” in the US, it was very
UNPOPULAR.
• CALLED A “TERRAPIN POLICY” – because Turtles (terrapins) live off shore and
are big and bulky (like government) and are basically inept (like government)
• Will become a MAJOR CAUSE of the War of 1812.
JEFFERSON
The cartoon was primarily a response to
 
John Q. Adams’ allowance of the passage of the “Tariff of Abominations”
Andrew Jackson’s enforcement of the Force Bill
James Monroe’s foreign policy as outlined in the Monroe Doctrine
Thomas Jefferson’s policy of trade through the Embargo Act
 
5. This cartoon would most likely have drawn opposition from all of the
following EXCEPT
 
Sailors who has been subjected to impressment
Federalists in New England
Merchants and longshoremen in New England
Southern plantation owners
 
6. The issues discussed in the cartoon reflect which of the following ongoing
debates in the United States over
 
Alliances with foreign nations
Slavery versus wage labor
Tariff restrictions vs. free trade
Immigration laws
• The Embargo Act of 1807 –
• Complete STOPPAGE OF TRADE – Disastrous to the economy
• EXTREMELY unpopular and Jefferson’s popularity suffers as a
result.
• Congress repeals Embargo Act - 1809
• Replaced it with the Non-Intercourse Act -- stated America
would trade with everyone EXCEPT Britain and France (which
comprised 80% of US trade).
• The Non-Intercourse Act –
• Unsuccessful -- American merchants and ship owners suffered
Jefferson leaves office with a loss of respect.
• Macon’s Bill # 2 – whichever country (GB or France) would agree to
stop impressment America would resume trading with -- FRANCE
• James Madison, the author
of the Constitution, a
Democratic-Republican, and
Jefferson’s hand-picked
successor becomes the next
President.
• Madison leads the country
during the War of 1812.
• Jefferson renewed his friendship with his long-term friend and
political rival, John Adams.
• Jefferson and Adams exchanged tons of letters with each other.
• Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on the same day:
July 4, 1826. It was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence which both men help write.
• Adams quote on his death bed --- “At least Thomas Jefferson, a
fellow patriot, lives!!”
• Jefferson had actually died several hours earlier.
• His slaves were sold to pay off debts, however he freed 5 slaves
(3 with the last name of Hemings) …… of the 10 slaves freed or
allowed to leave Monticello at some point during his life or
after his death, 8 had the last name of Hemings)