Chapter 8Chapter 8The Jeffersonian VisionThe Jeffersonian Vision

Jefferson as PresidentJefferson as PresidentJefferson ReformsJefferson ReformsLouisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase

Lewis & ClarkLewis & Clark

Jefferson as PresidentJefferson as President

Despised ceremonies Despised ceremonies and formalityand formality

Dedicated himself to Dedicated himself to intellectual pursuitsintellectual pursuits

Politician to the corePolitician to the core His success as a His success as a

president depended on president depended on close cooperation with close cooperation with CongressCongress

Jeffersonian ReformsJeffersonian Reforms

Top priorityTop priority Cutting the federal debt and Cutting the federal debt and

federal taxesfederal taxes Trimmed federal expenses, Trimmed federal expenses,

mainly by slashing military mainly by slashing military spendingspending

11stst term-reduced it by 50% term-reduced it by 50% (this left on 3,000 soldiers to (this left on 3,000 soldiers to guard the entire frontier)guard the entire frontier)

Retired a majority of the Retired a majority of the navy’s warshipsnavy’s warships

Suspicious of standing Suspicious of standing armiesarmies

The Louisiana PurchaseThe Louisiana Purchase

Americans had assumed Americans had assumed that they would some that they would some day buy or take New day buy or take New Orleans from SpainOrleans from Spain

1801, France, bought 1801, France, bought Louisiana from SpainLouisiana from Spain

Jefferson sent a mission Jefferson sent a mission to France to buy New to France to buy New OrleansOrleans

Napoleon, for reasons Napoleon, for reasons of his own, offered of his own, offered Louisiana for only $15 Louisiana for only $15 million million

Lewis & Clark ExpeditionLewis & Clark Expedition

Before purchasing the Before purchasing the Louisiana territory, Louisiana territory, Jefferson sent an exploring Jefferson sent an exploring party into the area.party into the area.

Their report on its economic Their report on its economic prospects reaffirmed prospects reaffirmed Jefferson’s desire that it Jefferson’s desire that it belonged to the United belonged to the United StatesStates

Jefferson established a Jefferson established a government for the new government for the new territoryterritory Most inhabitants were French Most inhabitants were French

and Spanishand Spanish Didn’t entrust them with self-Didn’t entrust them with self-

rulerule Area was governed by Area was governed by

WashingtonWashington American’s thoroughly American’s thoroughly

approved of Jefferson’s approved of Jefferson’s actions and reelected him in actions and reelected him in 18041804