Period IV: 1800-1848 Part 1: The Jeffersonian (Republican) Era

The Adams Presidency

! “Quasi War” with France ! XYZ Affair – French ministers demanded a loan for

France and a bribe before negotiations

! Alien and Sedition Acts

Election (“Revolution”) of 1800

!   Jefferson wins election – Republican

!   Adams – “midnight appointments” before leaving office

!   Federalists would not win another election

The Jeffersonian Vision

•  Society of sturdy, independent farmers

•  Universal education – scientific rationalism of the Enlightenment

•  Localism, republican simplicity

•  Federal government with limited power – States’ rights

Education

!   Vision for free public education

!   Mostly fell on private institutions

!   New education opportunities for women !   Value placed on the “Republican Mother” to train the

new generation

!   Led to creation of female academies

Establishment of a National Culture

! Noah Webster – Americanized spelling

! Washington Irving – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Winkle

! Mason Weems – Life of Washington

The Second Great Awakening

!   Religious skepticism !   Jefferson and Franklin were “Deists”

!   Commitment to organized religion decreased

! The Second Great Awakening was a reaction to this phenomenon !   Early decades of the 1800s

!   Effort by evangelicals to revitalize the church

Second Great Awakening

!   Spearheaded by Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians

!   Cane Ridge, Kentucky (below)

Stirrings of Industrialism

!   Importation of technology from England

! Eli Whitney !   Enormous demand for

cotton from England ! Cotton-Gin made separation

of seeds from fibers more efficient

!   Led to higher demand for slaves

!   Expansion of textile industry in the North

The Jeffersonian Presidency

!   The “People’s President”

!   Favored simplicity – eliminate “aura of majesty” surrounding presidency

Limited Government Under Jefferson

!   Abolished internal taxes – whiskey tax

!   Cut national debt in half

!   Scaled down armed forces

Conflict With the Courts

!   Remained largely Federalist

!   Sought to nullify “midnight appointments” of Adams

! Marbury vs. Madison (1803) !   Established Court’s

authority of “judicial review”

!   Chief Justice – John Marshall

Expansion of Territory

!   Napoleon’s imperial ambitions in America !   Secured Louisiana territory from Spain

!   Spanish would not allow American ships to deposit cargoes in New Orleans

!   Negotiated for purchase of New Orleans !   Napoleon’s imperial ambitions went awry – sold entire

Louisiana Territory for $15 million in 1803

Lewis and Clark

! William Clark and Meriwether Lewis commissioned to explore the new territory !   Gather geographical facts, investigate prospects for trade

with Natives

!   Guided by Shoshone woman, Sacagawea

The Burr Conspiracy !   Jefferson reelected in 1804

!   Federalists unhappy about land acquisition – threatened secession !   Hamilton did not support – Federalists turned to Burr !   Hamilton accused of treason, etc. – led to duel

!   Conspiracy to capture Mexico – trial for treason

War of 1812

!   Main causes: !   Conflict on the seas

!   British support of Indian tribes against western settlers

!   Territorial aspirations for Canada and Spain

!   Supported by “war hawks” Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun

Conflict on the Seas

!   Caught between conflict between Britain and Napoleon !   Both imposed restrictions on shipping

!   British began “impressing” American sailors from merchant ships !   Chesapeake – Leopord incident

Embargo

!   Effort to maintain peace and American neutrality

!   Prohibited American ships from leaving the U.S. for any foreign port

!   Led to economic depression

The “Indian Problem” and the British

!   Jefferson gave Natives two options: assimilate or move West beyond the Mississippi

!   British feared American invasion into Canada – sought to renew friendship with Natives

!   Indian leaders: Tenskwatawa (Prophet), Tecumseh – effort to unite tribes of Mississippi Valley

! Battle of Tippecanoe ! William Henry Harrison drove

natives from headquarters at Prophetstown

“Mr. Madison’s War” The War of 1812

War of 1812 !   Early defeats on land and sea

!   failed invasion of Canada

!   Success on the Great Lakes – Put-In-Bay, Battle of the Thames

! Andrew Jackson – Battle of Horseshoe Bend

War of 1812 !   British defeated Napoleon in 1814

!   Planned invasion of U.S.

!   Set fire to government buildings

!   Proceeded to Baltimore – Fort McHenry, The Star Spangled Banner

!   Battle of New Orleans – Andrew Jackson

Opposition to War

!   Led by Federalist opposition !   Majority party in New England

! Hartford Convention – December 15, 1814 !   Some called for secession

!   Momentum stifled by Jackson’s victory at New Orleans

Peace Settlement

! Treaty of Ghent !   Returned conquered territory to prewar claimant !   Americans gave up demand for renunciation of

impressment and cession of Canada !   British abandoned call for Indian buffer state in

Northwest

! Rush Bagot Agreement !   Mutual disarmament on Great Lakes

!   Commercial treaty opened trade between U.S. and British Empire