Chapter 9

Growth of a Nation

Thomas Jefferson-3rd President

• Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence (We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men all created equal.)

• Despite this, Jefferson owned hundreds of slaves and had children with one of his slaves as well

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Reversing Federalist Policies

• Jefferson makes it a priority to change some of the actions of John Adams.

• He lets the Alien and Sedition Acts expire, reduces the debt and ends the whiskey tax

• Jefferson also works on changing the judges that are in power

Barbary Pirates

• One of Jefferson’s biggest challenges was the Barbary pirates (Muslims off the coast of North Africa who were raiding ships)

• America had paid a bribe before but the amount increased

• Instead of paying, Jefferson sent the navy to fight the Tripolitan War which helped America win respect

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The Louisiana Purchase

• Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to set up a kingdom in America by starting in Haiti

• Yellow fever wiped out a large number of soldiers and forced Napoleon to sell the land

• Robert Livingston, Jefferson’s representative agreed to buy much more land than Jefferson intended

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Lewis and Clark

• The US paid France $15 million for the land (3 cents per acre). Today this would be $233 million (42 cents per acre)

• Jefferson picks Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition to explore the Louisiana Territory

• They faced danger the entire time and were nearly killed many times

• They were helped enormously by a French fur trapper and his wife Sacagawea who helped guide the expedition

The Pike Expedition

• Zebulon Pike was chosen to lead a second expedition to the southwest area of the Louisiana Purchase

• Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after him.

• He was instrumental in opening up the settlement of the West

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British and French Actions

• Britain and France are at war and are trying to get America involved.

• Britain issued their Orders in Council which made it illegal for neutral nations to trade in European ports unless they stopped at a British port for inspection first

• France responded by issuing the Berlin and Milan Decrees which stated that neutral ships trading with Britain or obeying the Orders in Council could be seized

The Chesapeake Affair

• British soldiers began to leave their ships and join American ships

• One British deserter insulted his officers before joining the U.S.S. Chesapeake

• A British ship found the Chesapeake and attacked, killing 3 Americans

• The Chesapeake Affair made people hunger for war but Jefferson resisted

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Embargo Act of 1807

• Jefferson responded by issuing an embargo, a stop on all exports from the United States.

• Jefferson hoped that this would hurt Britain but it ended up hurting America more

• Before leaving office, Jefferson issued a new act which allowed trade with countries other than France and Britain

Issues with Indians

• As settlers move further west, they encounter issues with the Indians in the area

• Tecumseh was one of the first Indian leaders to stand up to the settlers. He tried to stop the westward expansion of settlers.

• William Henry Harrison marched a group of soldiers to fight the Indians and burned their village

War Hawks

• The rising feeling of nationalism led to Congressman Henry Clay of Kentucky being elected Speaker of the House.

• Clay led a group called the War Hawks who spoke against Britain and focused on defense

• The relationship with Britain continued to deteriorate and led to the War of 1812

War of 1812

• America is facing difficulties at sea and on land and is being regularly defeated

• In 1813, Oliver Hazard Perry was able to defeat the British after nearly a year of preparation

• Britain is finally defeated after failing to take control of Baltimore

• Andrew Jackson held the British off in New Orleans and earned the nickname “Stonewall” at the Battle of New Orleans

• The Treaty of Ghent officially ended the war and helped inspire a feeling of nationalism (pride for one’s country)