Jeffersonian Democracy

• Many afraid of Jefferson and RepublicansFeared “French” social

reformsFeared weakened

central governmentFeared threats to

Hamilton’s financial reforms

Republicans narrowly won Election of 1800

• Election CrisisJefferson and Burr (both Republicans) tied with 73

votesDecision went to House of RepresentativesVote in House was split through 35 ballotsJefferson possibly made deal with Federalists to

preserve Hamilton’s financial systemHamilton convinced Federalists to back Jefferson-

Burr became VPCaused 12th Amendment providing for separate

presidential and vice-presidential ballots

• Federalists responsible for Strong central government Sound fiscal system Accommodation with BritainStaying out of French RevolutionThe Constitution

• Weaknesses of the FederalistsAttempted to hang onto power through under-

handed methods

• Believed all government a necessary evil

• Objected to Hamilton’s pro-British attitudes

• Jefferson pro-French Revolution / apologist for Revolution’s excesses

• “We are all Federalists”

• Toned down pomp and ceremony of office of president

• Administration was very partisan

• Judiciary Act of 1801Rammed through Congress just before

Republicans took powerCreated 6 new circuit courts and 16 new

federal judgesPositions filled with Federalists (midnight

judges) by Adams in last hours as presidentCongress repealed the act when Jefferson

became president

• Jefferson refused to seat new justices of the peace appointed by Adams

• One appointee, William Marbury, took his case to court against SofS Madison

• Marbury v. MadisonChief Justice John Marshall (midnight appointee)Finding in favor of Marbury would place court on

collision course with Jefferson – finding against Marbury would be to surrender power of judiciary to Jefferson

Marshall ruled that the clause giving Marbury appointment was unconstitutional – therefore void

Marshall turned potential trap into victory – establishing the precedent of judicial review

Marbury case infuriated Jefferson Jefferson started impeachment

proceedings against more partisan of judges

Impeached John Pickering Impeachment attempt against Samuel

Chase failedChief Justice John Marshall

• Jefferson refused to pay annual tribute when Pasha of Tripoli raised the amount

• Tripoli declared war and Jefferson dispatched naval squadron (US Navy had only 7 total frigates)

• The USS Philadelphia ran aground - had to be destroyed

Marines attack Barbary pirates at Derna

• Tribute continued to 1815 though with more favorable rates

• US Navy gained more experienceCommodore Edward

PrebleLieutenant Stephen

Decatur

• US desired New Orleans – port for US exports

• New Orleans and territory obtained by Napoleon – France planned new empire in western America

• Napoleon sent troops to New Orleans – diverted to Haiti (Haitian Revolution)

• Spain closed port to US

• Jefferson sent envoys to France to attempt to buy New Orleans

• Defeat of French in Haiti soured Napoleon on American empire – needed money to begin new campaign in Europe

• Offered not only New Orleans but entire Louisiana territory

• US reps, Livingston and Monroe, bought all for $15 million

• Jefferson and government not sure if sale was legal – drafted a constitutional amendment

• Everyone, including Federalists such as Hamilton, overlooked the problems of legality and ratified the treaty (sale)

• Sale guaranteed Republican reelection

• Republican successes caused die-hard Federalists to consider secession

• Essex Junto, led by Timothy Pickering, schemed to break away from union and establish Northern Confederacy

• Junto had little support even among Federalists – attempted to bring Burr into scheme (Burr running for NY governor)

• Scheme collapsed when Burr defeated in NY gubernatorial election

• Hamilton had worked against Burr’s campaign – continued attacking Burr’s character

• Burr challenged Hamilton to duel

• Hamilton killed

• Jefferson dispatched party to explore new territory

• Mission was scientific as well as political

• Other explorations included Thomas Freeman (Red River) and Zebulon Pike (Colorado region)

• Lack of meaningful Federalist opposition caused Republicans to break into factions

• After 1800 election Jefferson hounded Burr• Burr negotiated with Britain to establish break-

away western state• British backed off but Burr continued – joined by

Governor of Louisiana James Wilkinson (who was secretly in pay of Spain)

• Burr raised a small military force but was betrayed by Wilkinson

• Burr captured and accused of high treason

• Trial became struggle between Jefferson and Marshall

• Burr was acquitted• Burr went into exile in Europe –

returned to live life of degeneracy in NY Aaron Burr

• War in Europe stimulated the US economy

• Napoleon won mastery of Europe while Britain won mastery of seas

• Napoleon issued Berlin Decree – made all commerce with Britain illegal

• British retaliated with Orders in Council – barring trade with Napoleonic Europe

• Napoleon issued Milan Decree – declaring any vessel submitting to British rules subject to seizure

• Both British and French making money off neutral shipping

• US worked both sides – irritated British

• British law gave right for British to stop and impress any British citizen for duty on board British naval ships

• Large US merchant fleet bore brunt of practice

• British naval officers treated Americans with disrespect – stole cargo beside impressing sailors

• Questions over what was a citizen – British often impressed regardless

• Some 10,000 British sailors on American ships with varying degrees of American citizenship

• US angry over taking of native-born US citizens

• Between 1803 – 1812 5,000 sailors taken by British. Most were American citizens

• As war in Europe heated up, American shipping suffered• Between 1803 – 1807 British seized 500 American ships and

France seized 200• 1807 USS Chesapeake stopped by HMS Leopard

British demanded 4 sailors – Americans refused British fired on the American ship killing 3 sailors The Chesapeake was forced to surrender the sailors Attack was in violation of international law

• Jefferson responded with the Embargo ActProhibited all exportsLaw had catastrophic effect – imports and exports

plummeted, unemployment increased dramaticallySmuggling became commonplaceLawbreakers were seldom punished by local juriesJefferson refused to admit its failure – Congress

replace Embargo Act with Non-Intercourse ActNon-Intercourse Act- forbade trade with Britain and

France only and trade with either could be reinstated if they promised not to interfere with US ships

Quiz

• How was the winner of the 1800 presidential election chosen?

• What amendment came about because of the 1800 election?

• How did the Federalists attempt to maintain control over the judicial branch?

• What group organized a scheme to break away from the union and create a Northern confederacy?

Quiz

• Which president believed in an America of small farms and little government?

• For Jefferson, what was the most important aspect of the Louisiana Purchase?

• What court case arose over the Judiciary Act of 1801?

• What precedent did the case set?

Quiz

• Who was the Chief Justice?• Who was the greatest naval hero emerging

from the war with the Barbary Pirates?• What expedition explored the Northwestern

area of the Louisiana Purchase?• Who explored the area of the Purchase

around Colorado?

Quiz

• What did Jefferson attempt to do during his inaugural address?

• What was the original purpose in negotiations with France over land in the West?

• What was the Berlin Decree?• What were the Orders in Council?• What was the cause for Hamilton’s duel with

Burr?

Quiz

• What Republican flirted with treason?

• During Burr’s trial, what was the behavior of Jefferson and Marshall?

• What event prompted Jefferson to apply the Embargo Act?

• What was the result of the Embargo Act?

• What was impressment?