Jefferson’s Presidency

1. Jefferson’s Presidency Mrs. Ingram

2. New Policies • When Jefferson took office, his followers preached a ‘republican revolution’ in governmental policies. • This was because of his governmental practices. He was a Democratic-Republican, so the practices of former Federalists were changed. • Jefferson’s main goal was to bring down federal debt. • He cut the debt from $80 mil to $59 mil.

3. John Marshall • John Marshall became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court when Jefferson took office. • In his 35 years, he heard over 1,000 cases and set 4 main precedents that would define his legacy. • Power of judicial review– review acts of Congress; • Federal laws were superior to state laws; • Believed in the implied powers of the Constitution; • Believed in limiting the power of state gov to interfere in business contracts.

4. Marbury v. Madison (1803) • First court case to assert the power of judicial review. • William Marbury was appointed under John Adams as one of his ‘midnight judges’. • His papers were not delivered by Jefferson’s Secretary of State, James Madison. • Marbury claimed the Supreme Court had the power to order Madison to deliver his papers under the Judiciary Act of 1789; Marshall disagreed. • This is the only time Marshall declared a federal law (Judiciary Act of 1789) unconstitutional.

5. The Nation Expands • Since one of the Democratic-Republican ideals was an economy based on farming, Jefferson saw a need for increased area to grow these crops on. • Jefferson sought to expand to the Pacific, first conquering the Louisiana Territory, owned by Spain. • However, Napoleon had claimed the land from Spain, making it much more difficult to claim (Jefferson thought). • The Haitian rebellion had squashed France’s dreams of establishing a colony in North America. • Jefferson purchased the territory from France for $15 million. He then sent two men (Meriwether Lewis and William Clark) to explore the new land.

6. Foreign Problems • Jefferson had to send a small navy to northern Africa to stop the Barbary pirates from seizing American ships. • The U.S. needed overseas markets to sell their surpluses of goods. • The U.S. adopted a policy of re-export, in which American ships would bring French goods from the Caribbean to the U.S. be re-labelled as American, and sent overseas past the British blockade. • The U.S. became Britain’s greatest market competition, and aided the French economy.

7. Foreign Problems (cont’d) • Jefferson also faced the problem of British ships seizing U.S. merchants and forcing them to serve in the British military. • This was known as impressment. • The problems with the British grew, and Jefferson knew the U.S.’ navy was not strong enough to take on Great Britain’s. • Jefferson asked Congress for an embargo (a stoppage in trade) on Great Britain. • Great Britain was able to start a successful trade with South America, so U.S. merchants suffered most of all.

8. The War of 1812 Mrs. Ingram

9. Gearing Up for War • Jefferson ended the embargo just before he left office in 1808. • Congress replaced it with the Nonintercourse Act of 1809. • Trade would resume with whomever lifted shipping restrictions on the U.S. • A year later, Macon’s Bill #2 was passed to further entice trade. • Not only would the U.S. resume trade with the country who lifted restrictions, but they would refuse to trade with the opposing country.

10. Conflict with Native Americans • Conflict in the western territories had been growing and the British were still supplying Native Americans with weapons. • The Native Americans distrusted the U.S. government because of their broken treaties, so they turned to Britain as an ally. • The Native Americans were led by the warrior Tecumseh, who sought to recruit supporters across the U.S. • Ultimately, William Henry Harrison emerged as a military leader at the Battle of Tippecanoe. This would be the first major victory of Native Americans.

11. War Hawks • Young politicians who called for war were known as War Hawks. These men wanted to pursue war as a means of regaining national honor lost by impressment. • They believed attacking Canada was the best option because it was sparsely populated and it would cut off the weapons supply to Native Americans in the West. • Once they had taken Canada, they believed it could be used as leverage to gain greater maritime access.

12. War Breaks Out • Madison asked Congress for a declaration of war in June, 1812. The country was divided over war, though, so it did not have overwhelming support. • Support for the war waxed and waned as the U.S. military encountered both successes and failures on the battlefield. • Successes defeat over the Native Americans; naval victories (esp. on Lake Erie) • Failures were never able to invade Canada; were forced to surrender Detroit at the beginning of the war; British burned Washington D.C.

13. Significant Battles • Battle of Fort McHenry • After the British had burned D.C., they turned their attention to Baltimore (where Fort McHenry was located). They were unable to capture the fort. • This is the battle were Francis Scott Key penned the poem which would later become the Star Spangled Banner. • Battle of New Orleans • Considered the greatest victory of the War of 1812; took place in January of 1815… the war had been over for two weeks. • Andrew Jackson became a noted war veteran for the heavy casualties suffered by the British (2,036 to 71).

14. Treaty of Ghent • Both sides’ military failures made it difficult to justify continuing as the war progressed. • The two sides decided to revert to prewar boundaries, with each side ‘returning’ territory seized during the war. • They also agreed to set up a commission to settle all further boundary disputes. • Many Americans saw the Treaty of Ghent as an outright victory because news came so quickly after word of Jackson’s victory at New Orleans.

15. Hartford Convention • During the war, many New England Federalists spoke out openly against the war. • They convened in Hartford to discuss whether or not they should secede and make peace with Britain on their own. • Instead of secession, they demanded amendments be put in place to strengthen the power of New England states. • Their demands were received just as the war ended– making them laughable to the American public. • Support for the Federalist Party declined and in a few years, the party no longer existed.

16. Cause and Effect of the War of 1812 Causes Effects Demonstrated a need for a strong standing army/navy Spurred American nationalism Eventual demise of the Federalist Party Eventual acquisition of Florida • Britain interfered with U.S. shipping • British interference in American expansion westward (arming Native Americans) • Southerners want Florida (held by Britain’s ally, Spain) • War Hawks want Britain completely out of N. America

17. Review Today’s Topics • What was Jefferson’s main goal as president? • To eliminate the threat of Native Americans • To restore the British monarchy • To reduce the national debt • To acquire the Louisiana Territory • Why did Jefferson look to acquire the Louisiana Territory? • To acquire more land for farming • To acquire more land for Native Americans • To remove the influence of the Spanish from North America • To acquire more land for industries • Why is the election of 1800 seen as a 'republican revolution'? • Jefferson was the first Federalist to be elected • Jefferson focused his policies around a loose interpretation of the Constitution • Jefferson policies reflected the ideals of his political party • The election signified the start of the War of 1812

18. Review Today’s Topics • Which of the following is NOT a cause of the War of 1812? • British impressment • Southerners' desire to acquire first period • War Hawks desire to remove the British from North America • The disbanding of the Federalist Party • Which general emerged as a war hero following the Battle of New Orleans? • William Henry Harrison • Andrew Jackson • Tecumseh • Thomas Jefferson Ticket-out-the-door: Could the War of 1812 be considered a 'second war for independence'? Why or why not?