The Triumphs and Travails of the

Jeffersonian Republic

P. 211-217

Chapter 11

• The Jeffersonian Democratic Republicans presented themselves as:

–Strict constructionists (literal interpretation of the Constitution).

–Protectors of agrarian purity.

–Believers of political and economic liberty.

–Strong supporters of states’ rights.

Federalist and Republican Mudslingers

In the election of In the election of 1800, the Federalists 1800, the Federalists had a host of had a host of enemies stemming enemies stemming from the Alien & from the Alien & Sedition Acts. Sedition Acts.

But the Federalists had likely But the Federalists had likely been most damaged by John been most damaged by John Adams’ not declaring war Adams’ not declaring war against France.against France.

Federalist and Democratic Republican Mudslingers

The Federalists had raised a bunch of taxes and The Federalists had raised a bunch of taxes and built a good navy, yet ultimately hadn’t given good built a good navy, yet ultimately hadn’t given good reason to justify such spending (since war with reason to justify such spending (since war with France never happened). This spending ultimately France never happened). This spending ultimately made them seem a bit fraudulent in their intentions made them seem a bit fraudulent in their intentions as once again public debt swelled.as once again public debt swelled.

John Adams became known as John Adams became known as “the Father of the American “the Father of the American Navy.”Navy.”

Federalists also launched personal attacks on Jefferson, saying Federalists also launched personal attacks on Jefferson, saying that he had robbed a widow and her children of a trust fund, that he had robbed a widow and her children of a trust fund, fathered numerous children with his slaves (which turned out to fathered numerous children with his slaves (which turned out to be true), called him an atheist (he was a Deist), and used other be true), called him an atheist (he was a Deist), and used other

inflammatory remarks to attack his character.inflammatory remarks to attack his character.

The Jeffersonian “Revolution of 1800” Still, Thomas Jefferson won the election of 1800 by a Thomas Jefferson won the election of 1800 by a

majority of 73 electoral votes to 65, and even though majority of 73 electoral votes to 65, and even though Adams got more popular votes, Jefferson got New York. Adams got more popular votes, Jefferson got New York. But, even though Jefferson triumphed, in a technicality he But, even though Jefferson triumphed, in a technicality he and Aaron Burr tied for presidency.and Aaron Burr tied for presidency.

The vote, according to the Constitution, would The vote, according to the Constitution, would now go to the Federalist-dominated House of now go to the Federalist-dominated House of Representatives.Representatives.

Hateful of Jefferson, many Hateful of Jefferson, many wanted to vote for Burr, and the wanted to vote for Burr, and the vote was deadlocked for months vote was deadlocked for months until Alexander Hamilton and until Alexander Hamilton and John Adams persuaded a few John Adams persuaded a few House members to change their House members to change their votes, knowing that if the House votes, knowing that if the House voted for Burr, the public outcry voted for Burr, the public outcry would doom the Federalist Party.would doom the Federalist Party.

Finally, a few changed their minds, and Finally, a few changed their minds, and Jefferson was elected to the presidency.Jefferson was elected to the presidency.

The Jeffersonian “Revolution of 1800”

The “Revolution of 1800”:The “Revolution of 1800”: (1)(1) Was especially remarkable Was especially remarkable

because there was a because there was a peaceful transfer of powerpeaceful transfer of power; ; Federalists stepped down Federalists stepped down from office after Jefferson from office after Jefferson won and did so peacefully, won and did so peacefully, though not necessarily though not necessarily happily.happily.

(2) The Federalists deserve much credit (2) The Federalists deserve much credit for “following the rules” and obeying for “following the rules” and obeying the laws of the Constitution. Because the laws of the Constitution. Because they did so, a precedent was set, and they did so, a precedent was set, and there has never been a violent transition there has never been a violent transition of power in the United States.of power in the United States.

Responsibility Breeds Moderation On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson

was inaugurated president in the new was inaugurated president in the new capital of Washington D.C. capital of Washington D.C.

In his address, he In his address, he declared that all declared that all Americans were Americans were Federalists and Federalists and that all were that all were Republicans, Republicans, implying that implying that Americans were a Americans were a mixture. He also mixture. He also pledged “honest pledged “honest friendship with all friendship with all nations, entangling nations, entangling alliances with alliances with none.”none.”

Responsibility Breeds Moderation Jefferson was simple and frugal for being a wealthy planter. He Jefferson was simple and frugal for being a wealthy planter. He

did not seat guests in regard to rank during his dinners, for did not seat guests in regard to rank during his dinners, for example, and he also was very unconventional for the time (ie. example, and he also was very unconventional for the time (ie. wearing sloppy attire, and even greeting White House guests in wearing sloppy attire, and even greeting White House guests in his robe and slippers!) He also started the precedent of sending his robe and slippers!) He also started the precedent of sending messages to Congress to be read by a clerk, which wasn’t messages to Congress to be read by a clerk, which wasn’t broken until Woodrow Wilson in 1913.broken until Woodrow Wilson in 1913.

There were two Thomas Jeffersons: There were two Thomas Jeffersons: the scholarly private citizen who the scholarly private citizen who philosophized in his study, and the philosophized in his study, and the harassed public official who discovered harassed public official who discovered that his bookish theories often worked that his bookish theories often worked out MUCH differently in practical out MUCH differently in practical politics. politics.

Responsibility Breeds Moderation

Much to his credit, Jefferson Much to his credit, Jefferson dismissed few Federalist officials. dismissed few Federalist officials. He didn’t want to “rock the boat” He didn’t want to “rock the boat” too badly from the Federalists, but too badly from the Federalists, but JDRs who wanted the seats JDRs who wanted the seats loudly complained.loudly complained.

Jefferson had to rely on his casual Jefferson had to rely on his casual charm because his party was so charm because his party was so disunited still. Not granting enough disunited still. Not granting enough jobs to JDRs didn’t help, but he jobs to JDRs didn’t help, but he wanted to prove that he was a wanted to prove that he was a reasonable bipartisan ruler.reasonable bipartisan ruler.