Jeffersonian America

Did Jefferson abandon his principles for the good of the nation?

I. The Adams Presidency XYZ Affair

Adams sent diplomats to France b/c they were raiding U.S. ships

French demanded bribe Quasi-war w/ France Alien and Sedition Acts

Targeted DR opposition Violated 1st Amendment

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions Nullification States’ rights

II. Election of 1800-Bitter campaign between Jefferson and Adams

-Republicans tie in the Electoral College

-House of Representatives chooses Jefferson; Burr becomes VP

-12th Amendment added to Constitution

Election of 1800

Jefferson’s Inaugural Address

“We have called by different names brethren of the same principles. We are all republicans—we are all federalists.”

“…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none…”

“…the support of the State governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks against antirepublican tendencies…”

“…a well disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them; the supremacy of the civil over the military authority…”

“…encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid…”

III. Jefferson’s Principles

Had faith in the common man (the farmer) Repealed Naturalization Act and allowed

Alien and Sedition Acts to expire Repealed the excise tax on liquor Reduced military expenditures and the

national debt Supported states’ rights

IV. The Louisiana Purchase

1800, secret pact signed:Bonaparte induced Spain to cede immense

region of Louisiana, including New OrleansSpaniards at New Orleans withdrew

warehouse rights guaranteed by Pinckney's Treaty of 1795

Hoping to quiet clamor in West, Jefferson in 1803 sent James Monroe to Paris to work with Robert Livingstone, the regular minister there

IV. The Louisiana Purchase

Instructed to buy New Orleans and as much land as possible for $10 million

Napoleon suddenly decided to abandon dream of New World empire and sell all of Louisiana

Failed in effort to reconquer sugar-rich island of Santo Domingo (Haiti)

Slaves struck for freedom in 1791 Haitian Revolution eventually crushed, but

yellow fever killed thousands of French troops

IV. The Louisiana Purchase

Without Haiti, no need for Louisiana's food supplies.

To keep Louisiana from British, Napoleon decided to sell it and use money for schemes in Europe.

Livingston was shocked when French asked him what he would give for all of Louisiana:On April 30, 1803, treaties signed ceding

Louisiana to United States for about $15 million

IV. The Louisiana Purchase

Treaties included immense tract to west of New Orleans that would more than double size of U.S.A.

Once again, two Jeffersons wrestled with each other:The theorist and former strict constructionist versus the

democratic visionary Jefferson submitted treaties to Senate, while privately

admitting purchase was unconstitutionalGained 828,000 square miles at three cents an acre

IV. Louisiana Purchase

IV. Louisiana Purchase Impact of Louisiana Purchase—

Secured western half of richest river valley in world & laid foundation of a future major power

Established valuable precedent for future expansion on basis of equal membership

Imperialism with a new democratic faceWould lead to displacement of many IndiansMade isolationist principles of Washington's

Farewell operational because remove Europe from N. America

IV. Louisiana Purchase

Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery:1804 Jefferson sent personal secretary,

Meriwether Lewis, and army officer William Clark to explore northern part of Louisiana

Exploration took 2 ½ yearsRich harvest of scientific observation, maps,

knowledge of Indians, and adventure storiesDemonstrated viability of overland trail to

Pacific

V. Barbary Wars

Fought between the US and the N. African Muslim states known collectively as the Barbary States

Head of Tripoli demanded $$$ as tribute from American merchant vessels Jefferson refused

V. Barbary Wars

Showdown came in 1801-1805, Tripolitan War:Jefferson sent infant army to “shores of Tripoli”Four years of intermittent fightingSucceeded in extorting treaty of peace from

Tripoli in 1805; bargain price of $60,000 (ransom payment for captured Americans

VI. Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

British impressment of American sailors recommencesForced conscription of sailors by

BritishSome 6,000 U.S. citizens impressed

by Britain (1808 to 1811) The crew of the Leopard pursued,

attacked and boarded the American frigate Chesapeake looking for deserters from the Royal Navy, killing 3 Americans

VII. Embargo Act, 1807

Prevented US from engaging in foreign trade Federalists ->

Hurt US economy and Jefferson’s reputation

Non-Intercourse Act – opened up traded with all nations except Britain and France

VIII. War of 1812 - Causes British impressment of US sailors American Embargo Macon's Bill #2 - America dropped its embargo with France British supporting/arming Shawnee Confederation

Battle of Tippecanoe Republican War Hawks in Congress–

nationalist/expansionist Major Issues: 1) Nationalism and land hunger 2) British impressment 3) Indian atrocities Despite pleas from New England Federalists, Madison

asked Congress for a war declaration on June 18, 1812.

19 Visions of America, A History of the United States

Competing VisionsWAR HAWKS AND THEIR CRITICS

Why did Westerners believe that the British were encouraging Indian violence against Americans?

War Hawks accused British of arming Native Americans and inciting them to attack American settlers.

Critics argued that conflicts with Native Americans resulted from settlers’ encroachment on their lands.

IX. War of 1812

Regular U.S. army ill-trained, ill-disciplined, and scattered

Canada was important battleground because British forces were weakest thereAmerica's offensive strategy failed

Control of Great Lakes was vitalAmerican officer Oliver Hazard Perry's victory on

Lake Erie infused new life into American cause

IX. War of 1812

A second British force of 4,000 landed in Chesapeake Bay area in August 1814. Set buildings on fire, including Capitol & White House.

Americans at Baltimore held firm:• British hammered Fort McHenry, but unable to take city

• Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner”

American victory in Battle of New Orleans Andrew Jackson becomes national hero Treaty of Ghent, signed on Christmas Eve, 1814 was

essentially an armistice.

X. Federalist Grievances and the Hartford Convention

New England extremists proposed secession or at least separate peace with Britain @ Hartford Convention

• Demands reflected Federalist fears that New England was becoming subservient to South & West

• Demanded financial assistance from Washington to compensate for lost trade

• Proposed constitutional amendments requiring 2/3 vote in Congress before an embargo could be imposed, new states admitted, or war declared

In light of American victories, Federalists were seen as traitors, and never regained political power

XI. 1812 War - Results

War of 1812 a small war: 6,000 Americans killed or wounded

Globally unimportant, war had huge consequences for United States:Other nations developed new respect for

America's prowess thanks to Perry & Macdonough

In diplomatic sense, conflict could be called 2nd War for American Independence

XI. 1812 War - Results

• Sectionalism increased• Federalists party died (but ideas were

absorbed by Republicans)• War heroes emerged—Jackson and

Harrison—both later became president.• In economic sense, war bred greater

U.S. independence through increased manufacturing.