4/8
The Election of 1800 and Aaron Burr's Treachery
In the early electoral system, each elector cast two votes: one for their preferred presidential candidate and another for their second choice.
The Democratic-Republicans strategized for the election, aiming to make Thomas Jefferson president and Aaron Burr vice president.
The plan was for all Democratic-Republican electors to vote for Jefferson for president and Burr for vice president.
Aaron Burr, a war hero from New York, agreed to be the vice-presidential candidate.
The election resulted in a tie between Jefferson and Burr, each receiving 73 electoral votes.
Despite the pre-election agreement, Burr attempted to claim the presidency.
Burr argued there was a tie and expressed his desire to be president, causing a crisis among the Democratic-Republicans.
Aaron Burr's actions revealed him as a power-hungry individual willing to betray allies for personal gain.
The Constitution dictates that in the event of an electoral college tie, the House of Representatives decides the president.
Federalists in the House held the power to determine the election's outcome, despite their opposition to Jefferson.
Aaron Burr reached out to the Federalists, indicating his willingness to work with them in exchange for the presidency, further angering the Democratic-Republicans.
Alexander Hamilton, despite his deep hatred for Thomas Jefferson, played a crucial role in ensuring Jefferson's presidency.
Hamilton recognized Burr as a dangerous and unprincipled man, deeming him an "American Caesar" seeking absolute power.
Hamilton persuaded Federalists to vote for Jefferson, viewing him as the lesser of two evils.
Jefferson secured the presidency with Hamilton's support, while Burr became his vice president.
The relationship between Jefferson and Burr was strained, and Burr spent much of his vice presidency in New York.
Burr's Downfall and the Infamous Duel
After his term as Vice President, Burr ran for governor of New York.
Alexander Hamilton actively campaigned against Burr, denouncing him as untrustworthy and ambitious.
Burr lost the election, blaming Hamilton for his defeat.
Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, seeking to restore his damaged reputation.
The code of dueling in that era emphasized honor and reputation above all else.
Dueling was a means to defend one's honor, even at the risk of death.
Friends, known as "seconds," negotiated the terms of the duel, including weapons and distance.
Duels were often conducted in secret to avoid legal repercussions.
The seconds would monitor the duel's fairness and ensure compliance with the agreed-upon rules.
Often, duels were resolved without bloodshed as participants would fire their weapons into the air to demonstrate they are upholding their honor without intending to harm.
Participants often stood sideways to present a smaller target.
Rules dictated a turn-based shooting sequence until someone was unable to continue.
Alexander Hamilton accepted Burr's challenge, despite knowing his oldest son previously died in a duel defending his father's honor.
Hamilton decided to throw his shot away, not wishing to harm Burr.
Burr, however, took deliberate aim and shot Hamilton, inflicting a fatal wound.
Hamilton died a day later, leaving behind a grieving family and a nation in mourning.
Burr's action was widely condemned, and he was charged with murder.
Burr fled New York to avoid prosecution until the statute of limitations expired.
Burr never apologized for killing Hamilton, maintaining it was justified to the end.
Thomas Jefferson did not choose Burr as his running mate for his reelection campaign.
After his vice presidency, Burr returned to New York and resumed his law career.
Thomas Jefferson's Presidency and Policies
Thomas Jefferson aimed to reduce the power and size of the federal government, emphasizing agrarian simplicity.
He eliminated non-essential government offices to shrink the government's scale.
Jefferson broke from tradition by shaking hands instead of requiring bows.
Jefferson promoted an informal style, answering the door himself.
Jefferson answered in his pajamas, even when meeting with diplomats.
He reduced the national debt by cutting government spending.
Jefferson lowered taxes, including the direct tax and the whiskey tax.
The Alien and Sedition Acts were allowed to expire under his presidency.
Jefferson reduced the military budget, which later proved problematic.
He primarily funded the government through tariffs on foreign products.
Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review
Outgoing President John Adams and the Federalists attempted to maintain influence by expanding the federal court system and appointing Federalist judges.
They passed the Judiciary Act of 1801 to create new judgeships and pack them with Federalists.
Adams worked until his last day in office to fill these positions through commissions.
James Madison, the new Secretary of State, refused to deliver some of the commissions.
William Marbury, one of the appointees, sued Madison to compel him to deliver the commission.
Chief Justice John Marshall used the case of Marbury v. Madison to establish the principle of judicial review.
Marshall ruled that while Marbury was entitled to his commission, the Supreme Court did not have the power to force Madison to deliver it under the Judiciary Act of 1789.
Marshall declared a portion of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional, establishing the Supreme Court's power to review laws.
The establishment of judicial review made the Supreme Court a co-equal branch of government.
Supreme Court justices have life terms shaping law for decades.
The Louisiana Purchase
In the early 1800s, the United States was bordered by the Mississippi River, with France controlling the land west of it and Britain controlling Canada to the north.
Napoleon Bonaparte, leader of France, shut down the Mississippi River to American commerce.
Farmers relied on the Mississippi to transport crops to New Orleans.
He also closed the Port of New Orleans closing off farmers from selling to the world.
Some considered seceding from the United States to become French citizens.
Jefferson initially considered a military action to capture New Orleans.
He then sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to Paris to negotiate the purchase of New Orleans.
Napoleon had a grand plan to grow sugar in San Domingue (present-day Dominican Republic and Haiti).
French farmers in Louisiana would grow food to feed the slaves working in sugar fields.
A slave revolt in San Domingue disrupted Napoleon's plan.
Napoleon offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory to the United States.
Jefferson, despite constitutional concerns, approved the purchase.
The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States for , about 42 cents an acre.
Napoleon needed the money to finance his war with Britain. Jefferson doubled the size of the United States with one stroke of a pen.
This was the biggest accomplishment of Jefferson's presidency.
Jefferson won overwhelmingly a second term. The Federalist Party started to die before everybody's eyes.