2.2: Early Presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe
background
1770s: enters political scene with law background
1176: helps write Declaration of Independence
85-96: Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President under Adams
1801-1809: US President
the election of 1800
Democratic-Republican Jefferson v. Incumbent Federalist Adam
Jefferson presented himself as a moderate, which attracted a lot of voters
republicans → people's party (people had a president in Jefferson)
Jefferson lost popular vote but won Electoral College
technically tied, House of Representatives voted 30+ times; Alexander Hamilton throws support behind Jefferson
campaign
states rights > strong federal government
common people
farmers, laborers, workers
federalists: wealthy elites in cities
unconventional; saw himself as more than just a president
foreign affairs
military
did not think an army was necessary unless they were at war (peace president)
distrusted large armies; preferred forces similar to militias
downsized military to 2,500 troops, viewed navy as pointless (and didn't want to spend money on it)
neutral + friends with all nations, not necessarily allies
similar to Washington's view
north africa
"Barbary pirates" → paid off to stop harassing US ships
more convenient than fighting, still embarrassing
Tripolitan war
leader of Tripoli declared war by cutting down an American flag
from this came the Marine Corps - Jefferson sent navy to "take care of business"
following this, Jefferson started trying to strengthen the navy → built 200 small, quick gunboats ("mosquito fleet")
ended up being a waste - larger, armored sea boats better for warfare
US/British relations
the chesapeake affair
US can trade with any side in the war
1806 - London issues/passes Orders in Council → any ships headed to France must check-in at a British port for inspection
French-British war
embargo act (1807)
passed by Jefferson
forbid all US exports to any [European] nation
cut off all trade with essentially everyone - what did he anticipate?
hit NE hardest - merchants in trouble (ships just sitting in ports)
S+W - crops pile up, not exported
smuggling returned
congress repeals - passed Non-Intercourse Acts (1809 - prevents shipping only to England and France)
essentially same effect - main trade partners
neither the embargo or non-intercourse act was successful
Jefferson overestimated US' importance to England
unexpected benefit: forced American industry to start on its own → benefited Jefferson's rival, Hamilton - vision of industrial country
domestic policy
Repeal of Federalist Laws
alien and sedition acts - personally pardoned 10 victims of these
excise tax on whiskey - $1mil/year, still unfair
judiciary act of 1801 - Adams packed the court with Federalists, Jefferson replaces this with judiciary act of 1802 - restored some elements of Adams' plan, reorganized court system
Marbury v Madison
Marbury → Justice of Peace - commission not delivered
petitioned Supreme Court to compel Sec of St8 to push him through as a judge
for the first time, the Sup C struck down a decision as unconstitutional
caused Judicial Review - power of court to review constitutionality of laws, the Supreme power of the court system
decision angers republicans, wanted to take down Federalist Judge Samuel Chase
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson sent Robert R Livingston to make a deal with Napoleon
only supposed to buy a small piece for $10 mil - France offers the entirety for $15 mil
made this offer due to a slave revolt in Haiti (Napoleon decided American endeavors weren't worth it)
planning war in Europe - needed quick cash, couldn't maintain land
Presidents not allowed to purchase land - too good to refuse, passed by Senate
constructionism returns
if it's not clearly outlined in the Constitution, you can't do it
1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition
made it all the way to the Pacific ocean
encountered many Indigenous tribes, some peaceful, some not
Sacagawea
Aaron Burr
just wanted to be in charge of something,,, Fs in the chat
VP for first term
tried to get NY and NE to break away and become their own federalist country so that he could rule them
Hamilton reveals this to Jefferson → Burr is furious
dual, Hamilton dies (more dumb luck than anything)
tried to create new nation between E+W America → invade Spanish lands in Western America so that he could rule them
Jefferson again alerted, arrested + tried Burr with treason (found not guilty because he never did it, but disgraced)
shows Jefferson that governing such a large, new nation would not come without its disputes
4th President
attended Princeton University
1789: wins seat in House of Representatives
helped write Federalist papers with Hamilton and Jay
instrumental to ratification of Constitution
against Federal bank - unconstitutional
then, he and Jefferson leave the Federalist party and join the Dem-Reps
1800: becomes Jefferson's secretary of state
Dolley Madison becomes first "first lady"
ie. Abigail Adams was called Mrs. President
redefined role of President's wife → dedicated self to common good
established state dinners → White House becomes a place of social life; gives james some personality + flavor
presidential election
70% of Electoral votes in 1808
campaigned for hugely unpopular Embargo Act of 1807
"economic disaster" for American merchants
quiet, small, light, intellectual + unassuming
other
active member of American Colonization Society
supported freeing enslaved people, returning to “homes” in Africa (would send all of them back to present-day Liberia, not their actual places of geographic origin)
5'4"... yikes
was once opposed to the Bill of Rights
lost a House of Delegates election because he didn't give the voters alcohol
domestic policy
not a priority of the Madison administration
northwest Indigenous peoples
Madison believed the reason for their loss of land was a lack of unity, separate tribes
rechartering the bank
1816
viewed as a stronghold of Hamiltonian power by old Republicans
viewed as holding too much British stock by anti-British Republicans
support showed Madison's pro-federalist sympathies
foreign affairs
war of 1812
Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807 forced Madison to pass Macon's Bill No. 2
this new bill proposed to allow trade with other nations, exclusively reinstate trade with either England or France, whichever pledged to drop its trade restrictions
France ends up dropping them first - only ambition was self-serving
reasons for the war
"freedom of seas" → US wanted to trade and sail without fear of other countries
land expansion → wanted to expand into Canada, Florida
resolve issues with Indigenous peoples → British provided some tribes with guns to fight americans
make a statement to world powers that they were capable of fighting off England
divides
South + West: pro-war; wanted land
New England: anti-war; wanted trade with Britain
warfare
after losing a surprising battle in Canada, Americans began to win
Oliver Hazard Perry beat the British on Lake Erie, forced them out of Detroit
Tecumseh killed at battle of the thames → American victory, lead by William Henry Harrison
British still planned to attack New York → Americans almost defeated, US halted British plan + saved New York (prevented New England separation from the rest of the nation)
Washington DC was burned to the ground, stopped at Fort McHenry (where the Star Spangled Banner was written)
New Orleans defended
British troops targeted it - put entire Mississippi Valley at risk
Andrew Jackson led an army of 7,000; British were confident with their 8,000
largest battle of the war, American victory
Treaty of Ghent
delegates met in Belgium to make a peace deal
just a ceasefire, despite Britain's initial unreasonable demands
impact
Americans → won and gained respect to the world, gained credibility
end of Federalist party; now only Dem-Reps
high nationalism - heroes eg. Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison
Hartford convention
delegates decide what to do about war
from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island
discuss secession
bad timing - seen as crybabies opposing this because they arrived just as news broke of Andrew Jackson's victory in New Orleans
essentially the "nail in the coffin" for the Federalist party
war hawks
younger men > older men elected in Congress
became known as "war hawks" → pushed for war against Indigenous peoples to move them out to the West and steal their land
these men hadn't been part of a revolution, seek conflict but need governmental support
Shawnee tribe opposed to this; lead by Tecusmeh and the Prophet (brothers)
encouraged traditional Indigenous clothes and culture
urged Indigenous people to not give up their land and organized a coalition of Indigenous tribes
US viewed them as a threat
won all electoral college votes except one - deliberately votes against so that only George Washington would have the distinction of a unanimous electoral vote
looked and carried himself like Washington
last of "Virginia dynasty" - all 5 except Adams were Virginians
background
from Virginia
revolutionary - Monroe at Trenton
studied law under Thomas Jefferson, "the most immediate rewards" → fastest path to wealth and power
tried to run for president in 1808, didn't get nomination
temporarily secretary of war during war of 1812 - decent
election of 1816 + first term
won in a landslide in 1816 against William H Crawford (fall of Federalists)
took a goodwill tour in 1817
all the way around the country
Boston (federalist stronghold) - agreed that he was a good guy, lead to Era of Good Feelings
made effort to connect with everyone
internal improvement → states or federal government?
fate of BUS
election of 1820
lost one vote again (reserved for Washington)
unopposed - only president to be reelected after a financial crisis (1819) - Federalists suck
dispute Missouri compromise, "dirty bargain"
fun facts
ranked as above average president
17 US counties named after him
his 3rd child married her cousin - first marriage in the White House
took part in storming of Governor's palace in Virginia
fought in continental army
domestic policy
Westward Expansion + the financial panic of 1819
era of good feelings following war of 1812 → ready for Westward expansion
land act of 1820 - 80 acres of land for $1.25/acre; promoted expansion
people were buying too much land on credit from banks → economic panic
BUS loaned money to Western banks, who soon went bankrupt
Western farmers lost land, blamed Eastern banks (esp BUS)
last straw for Federalists - most support Jacksonian democracy
Missouri
territory wanted to join as a slave state - disrupts balance
Missouri Compromise - Missouri is slave state, Maine is a free state (12 of each); South views their influence as decreasing and fears abolition
tallmadge amendment
goal: limit # of enslaved people in Missouri
congress ruled that: no more enslaved people could be imported in Missouri, all must be freed at ~25
voted down in south
Southern reaction: upset - didn't want freedom/abolition
enslaved population decreases = less representatives
supreme court cases
highly contested - 5 major cases
john marshall was a justice - shifted toward judicial nationalism
fed government more powerful than state
all complaints based on rights of states governments
decision/outcome: federal government has ultimate power over states' affairs
rules in favor of federal government (reestablishing/reaffirming power of federal government every time) - John Marshall stops
bank, charter, boundaries, etc.
foreign affairs
rush-bagot treaty of 1817
demilitarized Great Lakes
US + Britain
each only have one warship on Great Lakes (much of war of 1812 fought on Great Lakes)
treaty of 1818
with France
resolved fort disputes after war of 1812
drew Canada line - 49th parallel
allowed joint occupation and settlement in Oregon country
Andrew Jackson in Florida
told to occupy areas in Florida; acted within authority of instructions - did not have any specific instructions to invade
hung ~10 people loyal to Britain + Spain
Jackson took a fort at St. Marks, took control over Pensacola, and disposed of Spanish governor
Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 (aka Transcontinental Treaty)
Spain sells all of Florida territory to US
1822
recognized Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile as countries in Aguirre mission
Monroe doctrine
reiterated policy on neutrality on European wars and conflicts
wouldn't accept recolonization by any country to its foreign European master
stated that European countries shouldn't consider Western hemisphere as open to colonization
mainly addressed to russia
no more colonization by Europeans in Latin America + no more intervention in Latin American affairs/Western Hemisphere; in return, Americans agree to remain uninvolved in the Eastern Hemisphere - esp conflict in Greece
Washington's farewell address → American foreign policy
Britain signs on, puts navy behind - this makes other European nations agree
Russo-American treaty of 1824
gives Russia claims of NW Pacific coast of North America (Oregon territory)
signed by representatives in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 17, 1824
background
1770s: enters political scene with law background
1176: helps write Declaration of Independence
85-96: Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President under Adams
1801-1809: US President
the election of 1800
Democratic-Republican Jefferson v. Incumbent Federalist Adam
Jefferson presented himself as a moderate, which attracted a lot of voters
republicans → people's party (people had a president in Jefferson)
Jefferson lost popular vote but won Electoral College
technically tied, House of Representatives voted 30+ times; Alexander Hamilton throws support behind Jefferson
campaign
states rights > strong federal government
common people
farmers, laborers, workers
federalists: wealthy elites in cities
unconventional; saw himself as more than just a president
foreign affairs
military
did not think an army was necessary unless they were at war (peace president)
distrusted large armies; preferred forces similar to militias
downsized military to 2,500 troops, viewed navy as pointless (and didn't want to spend money on it)
neutral + friends with all nations, not necessarily allies
similar to Washington's view
north africa
"Barbary pirates" → paid off to stop harassing US ships
more convenient than fighting, still embarrassing
Tripolitan war
leader of Tripoli declared war by cutting down an American flag
from this came the Marine Corps - Jefferson sent navy to "take care of business"
following this, Jefferson started trying to strengthen the navy → built 200 small, quick gunboats ("mosquito fleet")
ended up being a waste - larger, armored sea boats better for warfare
US/British relations
the chesapeake affair
US can trade with any side in the war
1806 - London issues/passes Orders in Council → any ships headed to France must check-in at a British port for inspection
French-British war
embargo act (1807)
passed by Jefferson
forbid all US exports to any [European] nation
cut off all trade with essentially everyone - what did he anticipate?
hit NE hardest - merchants in trouble (ships just sitting in ports)
S+W - crops pile up, not exported
smuggling returned
congress repeals - passed Non-Intercourse Acts (1809 - prevents shipping only to England and France)
essentially same effect - main trade partners
neither the embargo or non-intercourse act was successful
Jefferson overestimated US' importance to England
unexpected benefit: forced American industry to start on its own → benefited Jefferson's rival, Hamilton - vision of industrial country
domestic policy
Repeal of Federalist Laws
alien and sedition acts - personally pardoned 10 victims of these
excise tax on whiskey - $1mil/year, still unfair
judiciary act of 1801 - Adams packed the court with Federalists, Jefferson replaces this with judiciary act of 1802 - restored some elements of Adams' plan, reorganized court system
Marbury v Madison
Marbury → Justice of Peace - commission not delivered
petitioned Supreme Court to compel Sec of St8 to push him through as a judge
for the first time, the Sup C struck down a decision as unconstitutional
caused Judicial Review - power of court to review constitutionality of laws, the Supreme power of the court system
decision angers republicans, wanted to take down Federalist Judge Samuel Chase
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson sent Robert R Livingston to make a deal with Napoleon
only supposed to buy a small piece for $10 mil - France offers the entirety for $15 mil
made this offer due to a slave revolt in Haiti (Napoleon decided American endeavors weren't worth it)
planning war in Europe - needed quick cash, couldn't maintain land
Presidents not allowed to purchase land - too good to refuse, passed by Senate
constructionism returns
if it's not clearly outlined in the Constitution, you can't do it
1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition
made it all the way to the Pacific ocean
encountered many Indigenous tribes, some peaceful, some not
Sacagawea
Aaron Burr
just wanted to be in charge of something,,, Fs in the chat
VP for first term
tried to get NY and NE to break away and become their own federalist country so that he could rule them
Hamilton reveals this to Jefferson → Burr is furious
dual, Hamilton dies (more dumb luck than anything)
tried to create new nation between E+W America → invade Spanish lands in Western America so that he could rule them
Jefferson again alerted, arrested + tried Burr with treason (found not guilty because he never did it, but disgraced)
shows Jefferson that governing such a large, new nation would not come without its disputes
4th President
attended Princeton University
1789: wins seat in House of Representatives
helped write Federalist papers with Hamilton and Jay
instrumental to ratification of Constitution
against Federal bank - unconstitutional
then, he and Jefferson leave the Federalist party and join the Dem-Reps
1800: becomes Jefferson's secretary of state
Dolley Madison becomes first "first lady"
ie. Abigail Adams was called Mrs. President
redefined role of President's wife → dedicated self to common good
established state dinners → White House becomes a place of social life; gives james some personality + flavor
presidential election
70% of Electoral votes in 1808
campaigned for hugely unpopular Embargo Act of 1807
"economic disaster" for American merchants
quiet, small, light, intellectual + unassuming
other
active member of American Colonization Society
supported freeing enslaved people, returning to “homes” in Africa (would send all of them back to present-day Liberia, not their actual places of geographic origin)
5'4"... yikes
was once opposed to the Bill of Rights
lost a House of Delegates election because he didn't give the voters alcohol
domestic policy
not a priority of the Madison administration
northwest Indigenous peoples
Madison believed the reason for their loss of land was a lack of unity, separate tribes
rechartering the bank
1816
viewed as a stronghold of Hamiltonian power by old Republicans
viewed as holding too much British stock by anti-British Republicans
support showed Madison's pro-federalist sympathies
foreign affairs
war of 1812
Jefferson's Embargo Act of 1807 forced Madison to pass Macon's Bill No. 2
this new bill proposed to allow trade with other nations, exclusively reinstate trade with either England or France, whichever pledged to drop its trade restrictions
France ends up dropping them first - only ambition was self-serving
reasons for the war
"freedom of seas" → US wanted to trade and sail without fear of other countries
land expansion → wanted to expand into Canada, Florida
resolve issues with Indigenous peoples → British provided some tribes with guns to fight americans
make a statement to world powers that they were capable of fighting off England
divides
South + West: pro-war; wanted land
New England: anti-war; wanted trade with Britain
warfare
after losing a surprising battle in Canada, Americans began to win
Oliver Hazard Perry beat the British on Lake Erie, forced them out of Detroit
Tecumseh killed at battle of the thames → American victory, lead by William Henry Harrison
British still planned to attack New York → Americans almost defeated, US halted British plan + saved New York (prevented New England separation from the rest of the nation)
Washington DC was burned to the ground, stopped at Fort McHenry (where the Star Spangled Banner was written)
New Orleans defended
British troops targeted it - put entire Mississippi Valley at risk
Andrew Jackson led an army of 7,000; British were confident with their 8,000
largest battle of the war, American victory
Treaty of Ghent
delegates met in Belgium to make a peace deal
just a ceasefire, despite Britain's initial unreasonable demands
impact
Americans → won and gained respect to the world, gained credibility
end of Federalist party; now only Dem-Reps
high nationalism - heroes eg. Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison
Hartford convention
delegates decide what to do about war
from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island
discuss secession
bad timing - seen as crybabies opposing this because they arrived just as news broke of Andrew Jackson's victory in New Orleans
essentially the "nail in the coffin" for the Federalist party
war hawks
younger men > older men elected in Congress
became known as "war hawks" → pushed for war against Indigenous peoples to move them out to the West and steal their land
these men hadn't been part of a revolution, seek conflict but need governmental support
Shawnee tribe opposed to this; lead by Tecusmeh and the Prophet (brothers)
encouraged traditional Indigenous clothes and culture
urged Indigenous people to not give up their land and organized a coalition of Indigenous tribes
US viewed them as a threat
won all electoral college votes except one - deliberately votes against so that only George Washington would have the distinction of a unanimous electoral vote
looked and carried himself like Washington
last of "Virginia dynasty" - all 5 except Adams were Virginians
background
from Virginia
revolutionary - Monroe at Trenton
studied law under Thomas Jefferson, "the most immediate rewards" → fastest path to wealth and power
tried to run for president in 1808, didn't get nomination
temporarily secretary of war during war of 1812 - decent
election of 1816 + first term
won in a landslide in 1816 against William H Crawford (fall of Federalists)
took a goodwill tour in 1817
all the way around the country
Boston (federalist stronghold) - agreed that he was a good guy, lead to Era of Good Feelings
made effort to connect with everyone
internal improvement → states or federal government?
fate of BUS
election of 1820
lost one vote again (reserved for Washington)
unopposed - only president to be reelected after a financial crisis (1819) - Federalists suck
dispute Missouri compromise, "dirty bargain"
fun facts
ranked as above average president
17 US counties named after him
his 3rd child married her cousin - first marriage in the White House
took part in storming of Governor's palace in Virginia
fought in continental army
domestic policy
Westward Expansion + the financial panic of 1819
era of good feelings following war of 1812 → ready for Westward expansion
land act of 1820 - 80 acres of land for $1.25/acre; promoted expansion
people were buying too much land on credit from banks → economic panic
BUS loaned money to Western banks, who soon went bankrupt
Western farmers lost land, blamed Eastern banks (esp BUS)
last straw for Federalists - most support Jacksonian democracy
Missouri
territory wanted to join as a slave state - disrupts balance
Missouri Compromise - Missouri is slave state, Maine is a free state (12 of each); South views their influence as decreasing and fears abolition
tallmadge amendment
goal: limit # of enslaved people in Missouri
congress ruled that: no more enslaved people could be imported in Missouri, all must be freed at ~25
voted down in south
Southern reaction: upset - didn't want freedom/abolition
enslaved population decreases = less representatives
supreme court cases
highly contested - 5 major cases
john marshall was a justice - shifted toward judicial nationalism
fed government more powerful than state
all complaints based on rights of states governments
decision/outcome: federal government has ultimate power over states' affairs
rules in favor of federal government (reestablishing/reaffirming power of federal government every time) - John Marshall stops
bank, charter, boundaries, etc.
foreign affairs
rush-bagot treaty of 1817
demilitarized Great Lakes
US + Britain
each only have one warship on Great Lakes (much of war of 1812 fought on Great Lakes)
treaty of 1818
with France
resolved fort disputes after war of 1812
drew Canada line - 49th parallel
allowed joint occupation and settlement in Oregon country
Andrew Jackson in Florida
told to occupy areas in Florida; acted within authority of instructions - did not have any specific instructions to invade
hung ~10 people loyal to Britain + Spain
Jackson took a fort at St. Marks, took control over Pensacola, and disposed of Spanish governor
Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 (aka Transcontinental Treaty)
Spain sells all of Florida territory to US
1822
recognized Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile as countries in Aguirre mission
Monroe doctrine
reiterated policy on neutrality on European wars and conflicts
wouldn't accept recolonization by any country to its foreign European master
stated that European countries shouldn't consider Western hemisphere as open to colonization
mainly addressed to russia
no more colonization by Europeans in Latin America + no more intervention in Latin American affairs/Western Hemisphere; in return, Americans agree to remain uninvolved in the Eastern Hemisphere - esp conflict in Greece
Washington's farewell address → American foreign policy
Britain signs on, puts navy behind - this makes other European nations agree
Russo-American treaty of 1824
gives Russia claims of NW Pacific coast of North America (Oregon territory)
signed by representatives in St. Petersburg, Russia on April 17, 1824