JEFFERSONIAN ASCENDANCY: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT

1. JEFFERSONIAN ASCENDANCY: THEORY AND PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT America: Past and Present Chapter 8

2. Defining Identity in a New Republic • An age of rapid population growth • 7.2 million in 1810; two million more than 1800 • 20% black slaves • Children under 16 the largest single group • Strong regional identities • Early secession movements threaten national unity

3. Westward the Course of Empire • Intense migration to West after 1790 • New States • Kentucky--1792 • Tennessee--1796 • Ohio--1803 • Western regional culture rootless, optimistic

4. Native American Resistance • Western settlers compete for Indian land • Indians resist • Tecumseh leads Shawnees, defeated • Creeks defeated • Settlers reject Indian-White coexistence

5. Commercial Life in the Cities • Economy based on agriculture and trade • American shipping prospers 1793-1805 • Cities associated with international trade, otherwise marginal role in national life • Industrialization and mechanization just beginning to frighten skilled craftsmen

6. Republicans in Power • Jefferson personifies Republicanism’s contradictions • Despises ceremonies and formality • Dedicated to intellectual pursuits • A politician to the core • Success depends on cooperation with Congress

7. Jeffersonian Reforms • Priority to cutting federal debt, taxes • Federal expenses trimmed by cutting military • Reduction of the army removes threat to Republican government • Competent bureaucrats retained regardless of party • Federalists retire from public life • Ambitious Federalists become Republicans

8. The Louisiana Purchase • 1801--France buys Louisiana from Spain • 1803--Jefferson sends a mission to France to buy New Orleans • Napoleon offers to sell all of Louisiana for $15 million

9. The Lewis and Clark Expedition • Lewis and Clark Expedition commissioned prior to purchase of Louisiana • Report on Louisiana’s economic promise confirms Jefferson's desire to purchase • Constitution vague on Congressional authority to purchase • Purchase departs from Republican principle of strict separation

10. Louisiana Government Bill • Louisiana inhabitants French & Spanish • Jefferson denies them self-rule • Louisiana governed from Washington • Another Jeffersonian departure from Republicanism

11. Conflict With the Barbary States • North African states demand tribute from ships sailing in Mediterranean • Jefferson dispatches U.S. fleet to “negotiate through the mouth of a cannon” • U.S. cannot defeat the Barbary States • Action induces respect for U.S. rights

12. Jefferson’s Critics • Dispute over federal court system • Conflicts between Republicans • Sectional dispute over the slave trade

13. Attack on the Judges: Judiciary Act • Judiciary Act of 1801 creates new circuit courts filled with loyal Federalists • 1802--Jeffersonians repeal Judiciary Act of 1801 to abolish courts • Federalists charge violation of judges’ Constitutional right of tenure

14. Attack on the Judges: Marbury v. Madison • Marbury v. Madison (1803) rules Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional • Federalist Marbury denied his judgeship • Republicans claim victory • Chief Justice John Marshall ensures Federalist influence through judicial review

15. Attack on the Judges: Impeachments • 1803--Federalist John Pickering impeached, removed for alcoholism, insanity • Republicans begin fearing the destruction of an independent judiciary • Jefferson exacerbates fears by seeking to impeach Federalist Samuel Chase • Republican Senate refuses to convict

16. Politics of Desperation:“Tertium Quids” • "Tertium Quids" claim pure Republicanism • Attack Jefferson as sacrificing virtue for pragmatism

17. Politics of Desperation:The Yazoo Controversy • Yazoo controversy • Fraudulent land case in Georgia • Jefferson attempts to settle by providing land to innocent parties • Quids complain settlement condones fraud • Fletcher v. Peck (1810) • Marshall court upholds Jefferson’s settlement • Court may nullify unconstitutional state laws

18. Murder and Conspiracy: The Curious Career of Aaron Burr • Vice-President Aaron Burr breaks with Jefferson • 1804--Burr seeks Federalist support in 1804 New York governor’s race • Alexander Hamilton blocks Burr’s efforts • Burr kills Hamilton in a duel

19. The Burr Conspiracy • Burr flees West after Hamilton duel • Schemes to invade Spanish territory • Burr arrested, tried for treason • John Marshall acquits on Constitutional grounds of insufficient evidence • Precedent makes it difficult for presidents to use charge of treason as a political tool

20. The Slave Trade • Congress prohibits slave trade after 1808 • Northern Republicans call for emancipation of any black smuggled into the U.S. • Southern Republicans win passage of law to hand such persons over to state authorities

21. Embarrassments Overseas • 1803--England and France resume war • American ships subject to seizure • by England through "orders in Council" • by Napoleon through Berlin, Milan Decrees • Jefferson refuses war to preserve financial reform • Embargo--Jefferson’s alternative to war

22. Embargo Divides the Nation • 1807--Congress prohibits U.S. ships from leaving port • Purpose: to win English, French respect for American rights • Embargo unpopular at home • Detailed government oversight of commerce • Army suppresses smuggling • New England economy damaged

23. A New Administration Goes to War • 1808--James Madison elected President • 1809--Embargo repealed in favor of Non-Intercourse Act • U.S. will resume trade with England and France on promise to cease seizure of U.S. vessels

24. Madison’s Embarrassment • Madison reopens English trade on unconfirmed promise of British minister • English reject agreement, seize U.S. ships that opened trade with England

25. Macon’s Bill Number Two • Replaces Non-Intercourse Act • Trade with both England and France reestablished • First nation to respect American rights wins halt of U.S. trade with the other • Napoleon promises to observe U.S. rights but reneges when trade reopened

26. Fumbling Toward Conflict • Tecumseh’s Western campaign seen as supported by British • Congressional War Hawks demand war on England to preserve American honor • June 1, 1812, Madison sends Congress a declaration of war • War aims vague

27. The Strange War of 1812:Early Course • Americans unprepared for war • Congress refuses to raise wartime taxes • New England refuses to support war effort • United States Army small • State militias inadequate • 1813--U.S. wins control of Great Lakes in Battle of Put-In Bay

28. Strange War of 1812:The War’s Conclusion • 1814--three-pronged English attack • Campaign from Canada to Hudson River Valley stopped at Lake Champlain • Campaign in the Chesapeake results in burning of Washington, siege of Baltimore • Campaign for New Orleans thwarted by Andrew Jackson, January, 1815 • Treaty of Ghent signed December, 1814

29. Hartford Convention: The Demise of the Federalists • Federalists convene December, 1814 • Proposed Constitutional changes to lessen power of South and West • Treaty of Ghent, victory of New Orleans makes Convention appear disloyal • Federalist party never recovers

30. Treaty of Ghent Ends the War • American victory at Plattsburg prompts English to end the war • Most problems left unaddressed • Senate unanimously ratifies Treaty of Ghent • Americans claim success in a "second war of independence"

31. Republican Legacy • Founders begin to pass away in 1820s • Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both die July 4, 1826 • James Madison dies in 1836 • Despairs that Declaration’s principles not yet extended to African-Americans