Section 3: Jefferson in Office

Chapter 6

Jefferson Takes Office:

• Jefferson felt that Washington and Adams acted too much like royalty.

• He developed a less formal style as President (Rode horses not carriages, Entertained at the White House).

• He tried to integrate Republican ideals into Federalist policies.

• He began paying off the National Debt, cut government spending, and did away with the Whiskey Tax.

Rise of Supreme Court:

• Judiciary Act of 1801: Passed by Adams right before he leaves office (Last minute).

• Act created 16 new Federal Judges (All Federalists).

• Jefferson and Congress will repeal the act, doing away with the “Midnight Judges”.

• John Marshall: Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for 34 years who made the court a powerful independent branch of government.

• Marbury v. Madison: Supreme Court decision that strengthened the power of the Supreme Court.– Found a section of the Judiciary Act of 1789

unconstitutional.• Judicial Review: Gave the SC the power to

decide whether laws passed by Congress were Constitutional and to strike down laws that were not.

Louisiana Purchase:

• Jefferson supported westward expansion (Believed all Americans should own land).

• 1800: Napoleon Bonaparte (France) convinced Spain to give Louisiana back to France.

• Jefferson was worried about control of the Mississippi.

• 1801: Jefferson orders Robert Livingston to block the deal and negotiate with France.

• 1801 – 1803: Negotiations were ineffective.• 1803: Napoleon is in search of $$$ to fund his war. He will

offer Territory to the U.S.• Jefferson is unsure about the legality of purchasing land (It

is not listed in Constitution).• April 30, 1803: United States purchased Louisiana from

France for $15 million.• The purchase doubled the size of the nation and opened

territory west of the Mississippi.• Problem: Little was known about the territory (Land,

People, and Resources).

Lewis and Clark Expedition:

• Even before the purchase, Jefferson convinced Congress to fund a trip into the territory.

• Hopes: Find a Northwest Passage.• February 1803: Congress Approved the

expedition.• Party was led by Meriwether Lewis and

William Clark.

• May 4, 1804: The Corps of Discovery headed up the Missouri River.

• Sacagawea (Shoshone Indian) joined up with the group and served as an interpreter and guide.

• Goal: Get a better understanding of the territory.• Results: Increased our knowledge of the west and

gave the U.S. a land claim called Oregon Territory.

Western Exploration:

• 1805: Zebulon Pike explored much of the upper Mississippi, Arkansas, and Colorado Rivers.

• Gave the 1st detailed description of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.

Essex Junto:

• While the south and west were gaining political strength, many NE Federalists felt their region was loosing influence.

• Some Federalists wanted NE to leave the Union.• They attempted to convince Aaron Burr (Vice President) to

run for Governor of NY.• Outcome: July 11, 1804: Alexander Hamilton publicly

criticized Burr.• Results: Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton

refuses to shoot and is killed by Burr.• 1807: Burr accused of plotting to create a new country in

Western United States.

International Tension:

• Jefferson focused on keeping us out of war with France and GB.

• Policy of Impressment: British policy which made kidnapping legal and forced military service on sailors who were captured.

• 1807: The British warship Leopard stopped the U.S. Chesapeake to search for British deserters.

• Chesapeake refused and 3 Americans were killed.• Reaction: Jefferson placed a trade embargo on Europe

(Hurt the U.S.).

Section 4: The War of 1812

Chapter 6

Decision for War:

• 1808: Presidential candidate James Madison defeated Charles Pinckney becoming the 4th President.

• He took office in the midst of international tension with Great Britain.

Economic Pressures:

• Madison wanted to avoid war with Europe.• Problems with trade caused tension

(Impressment).• Non Intercourse Act: Passed by Congress, it

banned trade with France and England and gave Madison authority to open trade with whichever country removed restrictions first.

• Macon’s Bill Number Two: Stated that if either nation dropped the trade restrictions on U.S., then we would stop importing goods from the other nation.

• France: Napoleon lifts U.S. restrictions.• 1811: U.S. placed a Non Importation Act on GB.• June 1812: GB ended all restrictions on

American Trade.

Declaration of War:

• June 1812: Congress contemplates war.• War Hawks: Nickname for those that favored

war with GB.• Why: (2 Reasons):1. They felt that trade restriction hurt farmers

and planters.2. They blamed GB with clashes between

Western settlers and Native Americans.

Native Disputes:

• Tecumseh: Leader of the Shawnee who wants tribes to unite to protect their lands.

• William Henry Harrison: Governor of Indiana Territory who will use force against Tecumseh.

• Battle of Tippecanoe: Clash between settlers and natives with no clear victor, but it shattered natives confidence.

• Results: 1. Tecumseh and other natives fled to British Canada.2. June 1812: Madison asks Congress to declare war

against GB (Northeast was against the war).

Invasion of Canada:

• June 1812: The U.S. was not ready to fight. Fewer than 7,000 troops, 16 Naval ships, and little supplies.

• NY and NE citizens referred to the war as “Mr. Madison’s War.

• NE bankers refused to loan money to the government (National Banks charter ran out , 1811).

Early Fighting:

• U.S. military leaders planned to attack Canada from 3 directions (Detroit, Niagara Falls, and up the Hudson River).

• All 3 attacks failed.• September 1813: Commander Oliver Perry secretly

arranged for the construction of an American fleet on Lake Erie.

• The fleet was victorious giving the U.S. control of Lake Erie.• U.S. was not able to follow up on the victory.• Late 1813: U.S. had not conquered an British Territory.

War Ends:

• 1814: GB’s war with France ends and they could now focus on War of 1812.

• British Strategy (3 Parts):1. Attack U.S. cities along the coast.2. Capture NYC and cut off NE from the rest of

the country.3. Seize New Orleans and control the

Mississippi River.

British Attack:

• Aug 1814: British land near Washington.• They captured the U.S. capital with little

resistance and burn both the White House and the Capital (Madison fled).

• September 1814: British try but fail to capture Baltimore. Fort McHenry attacked, Francis Scott Key writes the Star Spangled Banner.

American Victories:• Battle of Lake Champlain (Sept 1814): American naval forces defeat

the British. 15,000 troops retreated to Montreal.• Battle of New Orleans (Jan 1815): Decisive U.S. victory which makes

General Andrew Jackson a national hero (Fought after peace treaty).• After the battle, strong feeling of patriotism swept the nation

(Downfall of the Federalists).• Treaty of Ghent: Signed on Dec 24th 1814, it officially ended the war.• Results:

1. Restored prewar boundaries (no territory exchanged).2. Increased the nations prestige (Stood with British forces again).3. Generated national unity and patriotic feelings.