The Jefferson Republic: 1800-1808

Presidential Election

1800: 1st official w/ 2 parties

• John Adams: Federalist

• Thomas Jefferson: Democratic-Republican

The Bloodless Revolution

Revolution of 1800: “Bloodless Revolution”

• Jefferson wins majority over Adams (73-65) but he receives the same number of votes as Aaron Burr

• Tie broken by House of Representatives (Controlled by Federalists)

• Jefferson chosen as “lesser evil”

Jeffersonian Democracy

Aristocracy/Elitist System: Believed as President, they make the best decisions

• Power from the Constitution

• Washington + Adams

• Replaced—

Majority Rule: Believed as President, he listened to what the people thought was best

• Power from people

• Used a pseudonym in newspaper to minimize influence of ideas

  • Campaigning: Other people did it for him

• Sally Hemmings: Relationship w/ slave, did care about his reputation here

Crisis 1

Adam’s "Midnight Appointments”: Adams appoints positions on last night of presidency

• Resented by Dem-Rep

• Marbury v. Madison: William Marbury sues Secretary of State James Madison

• Tried to force granting of commission

• Supreme Court rules:

  • Grievances of Marbury and others were justified

  • did not force Madison granting them commissions

  • Supreme Court says Judiciary Act of 1789 was not given by the Constitution

  • Judicial Review: Supreme Court has power to interpret Constitution

    • Final say on constitutionality

• Jefferson administration repeals Act and positions

Crisis 2 

1800 Spain signs secret pact w/ France that gives France back Louisiana

1. Napoleon’s Willing to Sell Louisiana:

• Needs money for upcoming war w/ Britain he wants to mount

• Believes that the land could help us later control British

2. 1803 Jefferson breaks his strict-constructionist to buy Louisiana Purchase

   1. Buy New Orleans and as much land west for $10M

   2. Napoleon offers all of Louisiana for $15M

   3. Doubled size of US (828,000 mi² for 3 cents/acre)

   4. Land = Money in agrarian society

   5. Commissions Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis and Clark Expedition

Jefferson commissions Lewis and Clark to explore and map new territory + Louisiana Purchase

• Find a practical route across the western half of the continent

• Est. American presence in this territory Europeans (British) claim it

• Study area’s plants, animals, geography (illustrations)

• Trade w/ Native tribes

Crisis 6: A Precarious Neutrality

US is neutral carrier on sea, France + Britain want to indirectly hurt e/o

• Britain = Sea power

• France = Land power

1806-1807 Order of Council: British and France fight over US trade relations

• British closed European ports under French control to foreign shipping

  • Impress Americans to fight in their navy

• French ordered seizures of all merchants ships that entered British ports

• Problem: Can’t trade w/ either nation w/o facing their guns

Crisis 6: Essex Decision

1805 Britain says Euro can’t trade w/ US during War

• Takes American ships + ex-British shippers back

• Impressment: Forced enlistment of sailors into British navy (they need men)
  → Chesapeake Affair (1807): Brit navy finds 4 ex. Brit sailors on US ship USS Chesapeake and demand they are returned, but US refuses, so Brits kill and wound multiple

• Americans want war, not Jefferson: Don’t wanna be “enslaved” but want to stay neutral b/c he thinks navy/army is too weak
  → Embargo Act of 1807: If bars British/French, they’ll respect 

  • US can’t export raw/foodstuffs nor import

  • Overestimated dependence on US goods

  • Unpopular b/c hurt N/S equally more than Brits/French: Smuggling

  • Positive: Promotes self-sufficient manufacturing New England