Chapter 11: The American Pageant

The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic

ELECTION OF 1800

• Jefferson defeats Adams in the Electoral College 73-65.

• ProblemProblem: Jefferson & Burr received 73 votes each and both were Democratic-Republicans

• Therefore election decided by House of Representatives

1. Election of 1800:Election of 1800: The rise of political parties caused flaws in the electoral college

Parties chose their candidates and electors would vote for them

2. Led to a tie between Jefferson and Burr----House of Representatives chose Jefferson.

3. To eliminate future problems1212thth Amendment: Amendment: Requires electors to specify which person they want for President and VP on separate ballots so there would never be a tie.

FederalistsFederalists Democratic RepublicansDemocratic RepublicansAdams--Pres---65 Jefferson---Pres.---73Pinckney---VP Burr---VP----73

Significance of Election of 1800 • peaceful transfer of power from one

political party to another• “revolutionaryrevolutionary” achievement

Significance of Election of 1800 • peaceful transfer of power from one

political party to another• “revolutionaryrevolutionary” achievement

John S. Adams Thomas Jefferson Federalist Democratic/Republican

John S. Adams Thomas Jefferson Federalist Democratic/Republican

Restraint Helps RevolutionRestraint Helps Revolution

Jefferson axed a few Federalist policiesJefferson axed a few Federalist policies

• Pardoned those convicted under expired Sedition Act

• Reduced residency requirement for citizenship back to 5 years

• Repealed hated excise tax

• Made efforts to eliminate debt

• Pardoned those convicted under expired Sedition Act

• Reduced residency requirement for citizenship back to 5 years

• Repealed hated excise tax

• Made efforts to eliminate debt

• Yet Jefferson showed restraint by leaving most of Federalist program

• Did not attack tariff, Bank, funding at par, or assumption of debt

• Helped 2-party system by showing that defeat (for Federalists) didn’t

mean disaster

• Yet Jefferson showed restraint by leaving most of Federalist program

• Did not attack tariff, Bank, funding at par, or assumption of debt

• Helped 2-party system by showing that defeat (for Federalists) didn’t

mean disaster

Restraint Helps RevolutionRestraint Helps Revolution

•Many historians look at this time period as the beginning of the true democracy.

•Champion for the common mancommon man•Believed education would prepare them for

participation in government…..•For now, educated should rule…

•Believed National Government became too powerful during Adams’ Presidency

•Kept most FederalistFederalist programs. WHY? •Washington/AdamsWashington/Adams laid a solid foundation for USA.

•Pardoned those arrested with Sedition ActSedition Act•Repealed the Whiskey taxWhiskey tax•Kept Hamilton’s financial policies—Bank of the USBank of the US•Eliminated Alien ActAlien Act

•Visualized an Visualized an agrarian societyagrarian society •Feared Feared industrializationindustrialization and its effects …. and its effects ….

•FarmersFarmers were the chosen class. were the chosen class.•Laissez faireLaissez faire--govt. stays out of people’s lives--govt. stays out of people’s lives•Against Against Bank of the United StatesBank of the United States but did not but did not

repeal it.repeal it.

•Owned slavesOwned slaves but believed it was evil….Slavery but believed it was evil….Slavery would end but predicted it would divide U.S…would end but predicted it would divide U.S…

Ultimate goal, Blacks would Ultimate goal, Blacks would assimilateassimilate into into American societyAmerican society

•Native AmericansNative Americans, co-existence a long range goal , co-existence a long range goal but would have to learn agricultural ways and but would have to learn agricultural ways and

become self-sufficient…For that time, become self-sufficient…For that time, Indians and Indians and whiteswhites could not could not co-existco-exist and worked towards and worked towards voluntary removalvoluntary removal of tribes to western lands of tribes to western lands

•Believed Believed educationeducation the key to the key to social mobilitysocial mobility

Although the Supreme Court, which had a Federalist majority, denied Marbury, also a Federalist, his

commission (appointment to become a judge), the Court established a far more important principle.

•THE SUPREME COURTSUPREME COURT INTERPRETS WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS AND CAN DECLARE A LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHICH IS CALLED

JUDICIAL REVIEWJUDICIAL REVIEW.•THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

IS OVER THE STATES.

Chief Justice John Marshall stated,, •“The Constitution is either a superior paramount law,

unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, and like other acts, is alterable when

the legislature shall please to alter it.•If the former part of the alternative be true, then a legislative acting contrary to the constitution is now law; if the latter part be true, then written constitutions are absurd attempts, on the part of the people to limit a power in its own nature illimitable.

•It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is

•If, then, the courts are to regard the Constitution and the Constitution is superior to any ordinary act of the legislature,

the Constitution and no such ordinary act, must govern the case to which they are both applicable”.

•Great Britain after the Revolution.

•United States after War

•Spanish land after Revolution

Spanish Land Spanish Land 18001800

New Orleans

•Great Britain after the Revolution.

•United States after War

•Spanish land

French Land French Land in 1801in 1801

New Orleans

•1800, France acquired Spanish Louisiana & New Orleans

•Because of pressure from the west and national security threats, Jefferson offered to buy New Orleans from France

•Offered Napoleon $10 million to buy New Orleans•If sale fails, instructed to seek alliance with England

•1800, France acquired Spanish Louisiana & New Orleans

•Because of pressure from the west and national security threats, Jefferson offered to buy New Orleans from France

•Offered Napoleon $10 million to buy New Orleans•If sale fails, instructed to seek alliance with England

Haitian rev

•Toussaint L’Ouverture, former slave led a slave rebellion in French Haiti.

•Napoleon unable to put down this rebellion which he wanted to use this island as stepping stone into America….

•Forced him to abandon his dream of a French America.

•Toussaint L’Ouverture, former slave led a slave rebellion in French Haiti.

•Napoleon unable to put down this rebellion which he wanted to use this island as stepping stone into America….

•Forced him to abandon his dream of a French America.

Louisiana purchase

•Since Napoleon was at war with Great Britain he offered entire

Louisiana Territory to US for $15 million

•Needed the money for his war with Great Britain

•Jefferson purchased Louisiana Territory for $15 million, about 3

cents an acre

•Doubled the size of the US

•Jefferson’s greatest accomplishment

•Why? Didn’t fight a war, no blood shed.

•Since Napoleon was at war with Great Britain he offered entire

Louisiana Territory to US for $15 million

•Needed the money for his war with Great Britain

•Jefferson purchased Louisiana Territory for $15 million, about 3

cents an acre

•Doubled the size of the US

•Jefferson’s greatest accomplishment

•Why? Didn’t fight a war, no blood shed.

Does the President have the right to purchase land if it is not expressed in the

US Constitution?Jefferson used implied powersimplied powers or loose loose

constructionconstruction to justify his decision“It was for the best interest of the nation. It is the case of a

guardian, investing the money of his ward in purchasing an important adjacent territory; and saying to him when of age, I did this for your good; I pretend to no right to

bind you; you may disavow me, and I must get out of the scrape as I can: I thought it my duty to risk myself for

you.”Madison to JeffersonMadison to Jefferson

““Mr. President, you are only extending this republic over a Mr. President, you are only extending this republic over a larger area of land.”larger area of land.”

Does the President have the right to purchase land if it is not expressed in

the US Constitution?

•Hamilton and Federalists were against this purchase (IRONY)

•Why? Population shift take Federalist power away in Congress

•Feared Jefferson’s vision of an “agrarian “agrarian society”society”

•Jefferson referred to this as his “valley of “valley of democracy”democracy”

Map 6 of 45

Expansion of the United States

Map 7 of 45Expansion of the United

Stateswith Louisiana Purchase 1803

•Spring, 1804: Jefferson sends personal secretary Meriwether Lewis and army officer William Clark to explore north

Louisiana

• Corps of Discovery: 28 men who accompanied Lewis/Clark.

•Exploration yielded maps, knowledge of Indians, overland trail to Pacific

• President Jefferson wanted to find the Northwest Passage

• United States’ claim to the Pacific Northwest

•Spring, 1804: Jefferson sends personal secretary Meriwether Lewis and army officer William Clark to explore north

Louisiana

• Corps of Discovery: 28 men who accompanied Lewis/Clark.

•Exploration yielded maps, knowledge of Indians, overland trail to Pacific

• President Jefferson wanted to find the Northwest Passage

• United States’ claim to the Pacific Northwest

•Interpreter and guide for Lewis and Clark

•Her knowledge of trails and mountain passes helped with the success of the expedition.

•She was also a “diplomat” for Lewis and Clark. Many tribes

had never seen white men before.

•Her presence with a baby was looked upon as good and

Lewis and Clark were considered peaceful.

•Interpreter and guide for Lewis and Clark

•Her knowledge of trails and mountain passes helped with the success of the expedition.

•She was also a “diplomat” for Lewis and Clark. Many tribes

had never seen white men before.

•Her presence with a baby was looked upon as good and

Lewis and Clark were considered peaceful.

Secretly forming a political pact with some radical New

England Federalists.

Burr planned to win the governorship of New York in

1804.

Unite that state with the New England states, and then lead this group of states to secede

from the nation

Secretly forming a political pact with some radical New

England Federalists.

Burr planned to win the governorship of New York in

1804.

Unite that state with the New England states, and then lead this group of states to secede

from the nation

Most Federalists followed Alexander Hamilton in opposing Burr, who was defeated in the New York election

The conspiracy then disintegrated

Most Federalists followed Alexander Hamilton in opposing Burr, who was defeated in the New York election

The conspiracy then disintegrated

Angered by an insulting remark

attributed to Hamilton,

Burr challenged the Federalist leader to a duel and fatally shot

him

Angered by an insulting remark

attributed to Hamilton,

Burr challenged the Federalist leader to a duel and fatally shot

him

Hamilton’s death in 1804 deprived the Federalists of their last great leader and earned

Burr the hatred of many

Hamilton’s death in 1804 deprived the Federalists of their last great leader and earned

Burr the hatred of many

In 1806, Burr planned to take Mexico from Spain

and possibly unite it with Louisiana under his rule

Jefferson learned of the conspiracy and ordered Burr’s arrest and trial for

treason

In 1806, Burr planned to take Mexico from Spain

and possibly unite it with Louisiana under his rule

Jefferson learned of the conspiracy and ordered Burr’s arrest and trial for

treason

A jury acquitted Burr, basing its decision on Marshall’s narrow definition of treason and the

lack of witnesses to any “overt act” by Burr

A jury acquitted Burr, basing its decision on Marshall’s narrow definition of treason and the

lack of witnesses to any “overt act” by Burr

Barbary raids

1801: Pasha of Tripoli was not happy with his

share of protection money

Informally declared war on US.

1801: Pasha of Tripoli was not happy with his

share of protection money

Informally declared war on US.

Pacifist Jefferson reluctantly dispatched navy, secured peace for $60,000 ransom

for American sailors.

Pacifist Jefferson reluctantly dispatched navy, secured peace for $60,000 ransom

for American sailors.

Small gunboats used with some success in Tripoli Jefferson interested in their cost Jefferson interested in their cost

savings.savings. “Mosquito fleet” of 200 small

gunboats constructed. War of 1812: these boats would War of 1812: these boats would

prove to be ineffective.prove to be ineffective.

Anti-War and Anti-Navy (Pacifist)•Went to war with Barbary Pirates in North Africa

•Built the “mosquito fleet” of naval ships

Anti-British/Pro-French•Almost allied with England and went to war with France

to force Napoleon out of New Orleans.

Against slavery•Owned 200 slaves

Strict Construction of Constitution

•Used loose construction of Constitution over purchase of Louisiana territoryJefferson realized that “ideas” are

often hard to put into practice in a “realistic world”.

Berlin Decree (1806), Milan Decree (1807):Berlin Decree (1806), Milan Decree (1807):

These decrees issued by Napoleon dealt with shipping These decrees issued by Napoleon dealt with shipping and led to the War of 1812. The Berlin Decree initiated and led to the War of 1812. The Berlin Decree initiated the Continental System, which closed European ports to the Continental System, which closed European ports to

ships which had docked in Britain. The Milan Decree ships which had docked in Britain. The Milan Decree authorized French ships to seize neutral shipping authorized French ships to seize neutral shipping

vessels trying to trade at British ports. vessels trying to trade at British ports. 

Orders-in-councilOrders-in-council British laws which led to the War of 1812. Orders-in-British laws which led to the War of 1812. Orders-in-council passed in 1807 permitted the impressment of council passed in 1807 permitted the impressment of sailors and forbade neutral ships from visiting ports sailors and forbade neutral ships from visiting ports

from which Britain was excluded unless they first went from which Britain was excluded unless they first went to Britain and traded for British goods. to Britain and traded for British goods. 

1806: England closed ports under French

control to foreign shipping (incl. US), seized US ships & impressed Americans.

Napoleon ordered seizure of all merchant ships that

entered British ports.

ImpressmentImpressment An act of kidnapping An act of kidnapping a ship, its contents, a ship, its contents,

men and forcing men and forcing them into your navythem into your navy

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

Regarding the Chesapeake Affair, the Washington

Federalist reported,

“We have never, on any occasion, witnessed the spirit

of the people excited to so great a degree of indignation, or such a thirst for revenge,

as on hearing of the late unexampled outrage on the

Chesapeake. All parties, ranks and professions were

unanimous in their detestation of the dastardly

deed, and all cried aloud for vengeance.”

embargo1

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off

our exports to them it would force them to respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED

ECONOMIC COERCION. •It would have the reverse effect……

•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also hurt U.S. trade which was our

economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to

smuggle goods from these countries as well as others.

•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off

our exports to them it would force them to respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED

ECONOMIC COERCION. •It would have the reverse effect……

•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also hurt U.S. trade which was our

economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to

smuggle goods from these countries as well as others.

•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809

embargo2

•American people were hostile towards Jefferson

•Referred to the Embargo as “Dambargo, Mobrage,

Go Bar Em”….

•Would be replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act by

President Madison which allowed U.S. exports and trade but not with France

and Great Britain……

embargo2

“Our ships all in motion,Once whiten’d the ocean;

They sail’d and return’d with a Cargo;Now doom’d to decayThey are fallen a prey,

To Jefferson, worms and EMBARGO.”

A Federalist circular in Massachusetts A Federalist circular in Massachusetts against the embargo cried out,against the embargo cried out,

““Let every man who holds the name of Let every man who holds the name of America dear to him , stretch forth his hands America dear to him , stretch forth his hands

and put this accursed thing, this Embargo and put this accursed thing, this Embargo from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty, from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty,

of God, and your country; nerve your arms of God, and your country; nerve your arms with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson) with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson)

who would wrest the inestimable germ of who would wrest the inestimable germ of your Independence from you---and you shall your Independence from you---and you shall

be Conquerors!!!”be Conquerors!!!”

Non-Intercourse ActNon-Intercourse Act1809 - Replaced the Embargo of 1807. Unlike the 1809 - Replaced the Embargo of 1807. Unlike the Embargo, which forbade American trade with all Embargo, which forbade American trade with all

foreign nations, this act only forbade trade with France foreign nations, this act only forbade trade with France and Britain. It did not succeed in changing British or and Britain. It did not succeed in changing British or

French policy towards neutral ships, so it was replaced French policy towards neutral ships, so it was replaced by Macon’s Bill No. 2.by Macon’s Bill No. 2.

Macon’s Bill No. 2Macon’s Bill No. 21810 - Forbade trade with Britain and France, but 1810 - Forbade trade with Britain and France, but

offered to resume trade with whichever nation lifted its offered to resume trade with whichever nation lifted its neutral trading restrictions first. France quickly neutral trading restrictions first. France quickly

changed its policies against neutral vessels, so the U.S. changed its policies against neutral vessels, so the U.S. resumed trade with France, but not Britain.resumed trade with France, but not Britain.

Dupe of Napoleon

• November, 1810: Madison announces nonimportation against Britain

• Results in political ties with France

• Major foreign policy mistakeNapoleon

•August, 1810: in response, Napoleon (lying) announced

decrees (stop impressing US ships) could be repealed if Britain ends

the Orders in Council

TecumsehTecumseh

• Tecumseh (Shawnee warrior) & the Prophet (brother) formed union of tribes east of Mississippi to fight white intrusion – Supplied by the British– led Indian cultural renewal

• 1809: General William H. Harrison appointed as governor of Indiana Territory by President Jefferson.

• President Jefferson instructed Harrison to convince Tecumseh to stop attacking American settlements.

• Battle of Tippecanoe makes Harrison a hero.