U.S. History – Chapter 8 (without Section 3) Notes
I. JEFFERSON BECOMES PRESIDENT
The Election of 1800
1. Adams & Pinckney (Federalists) ran against Jefferson & Burr (Republicans)
2. Adams’ supporters said Jefferson was pro-French
3. Jefferson’s supporters said Adams would limit Americans’ rights
4. Jefferson & Burr tied with 73 votes each
5. Decision went to the House - elected Jefferson
6. The tied race led to the 12th Amendment creating a separate ballot for President & VP
7. Jefferson’s inaugural address:
a. noted it was both the 1st & a peaceful change from one party to another
b. main theme: to unite Republicans and Federalists
8. Republicans gained control of executive & legislative branches
9. Federalists dominated the courts
Jefferson’s Policies
1. He supported the will of the majority
2. He stressed limited govt. & protection of civil liberties
3. He lowered military spending & reduced the size of the army & navy – hoped to pay off national debt
4. He wanted to get rid of domestic taxes
5. He believed that primary functions of the federal government were to: protect the nation from national
threats, deliver the mail & collect custom duties
Marbury v. Madison
1. Established Supreme Court’s power of judicial review – the power of the judiciary to declare an act of
Congress unconstitutional
2. Made Supreme Court final authority on Constitution
3. Established the Supreme Court’s power to check the power of the other branches
4. It helped make the judicial branch equal to the other two branches
II. THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE
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As American settlers moved west, control of the Mississippi became important to US
Spain owned Louisiana but couldn’t keep Americans out – closed New Orleans to American shippers – which
hurt American farmers
Under a secret treaty, Spain traded Louisiana to France
Jefferson asked Livingston & Monroe to try to buy New Orleans from France
Talleyrand (French foreign minister) offered to sell all of Louisiana to the Americans
Napoleon needed money for military supplies & he hoped US would be able to challenge British
The US bought Louisiana for $15 million (about 3 cents an acre)
This nearly doubled the size of the US
Lewis and Clark Expedition
1. Lewis and Clark led the Corps of Discovery on a long journey to explore the Louisiana Purchase
2. Jefferson hoped they would find a river route to the Pacific Ocean
3. The Rocky mountains presented a major obstacle on their journey
4. Sacagawea & her husband helped them cross the Rockies
5. They reached the Pacific Ocean but failed to find a river route
6. Some challenges: traveling thru uncharted area, no ability to receive new supplies, transportation
difficulties, fear of hostile attack
7. Achievements: Learned about western lands, made contact with Native Americans, collected data about
western plants and animals
Pike’s Exploration (1806)
1. Zebulon Pike was sent to find the origin of the Red River
2. He headed into the Rocky Mountains & tried to reach the summit - Pike’s Peak
3. He was captured by the Spanish as a spy – eventually released
4. It helped outline the Louisiana Territory’s western border with New Spain
IV. THE WAR OF 1812
 James Madison served as President during the War of 1812
Early Battles
1. War at Sea – British had a large fleet – US had fewer than 20 ships
2. The British Navy was spread out – so American ships were able to defeat British ships several times in oneon-one duels
3. After a failed invasion of Canada – US won Battle of Lake Erie forcing the British off the lake
4. The Battle of Thames – ended British and Indian power in the Northwest
5. In the Creek War, Andrew Jackson moved against the Creek Indians in Alabama - The Treaty of Fort Jackson
forced the Creek Indians to give up 23 million acres of their land
Great Britain reinforced its troops in 1814 after they had defeated France
1. British first took Washington DC & set fire to the White House, the Capitol and other government buildings
2. British then sailed to Fort McHenry in Baltimore and shelled the fort for 25 hours - the US refused to
surrender so the British retreated [The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key to celebrate
the victory. It became the National Anthem in 1931.]
3. The Battle of New Orleans took place after the war had ended:
a. Last major conflict in the War of 1812
b. Made Andrew Jackson a hero as commander of a mixed group of soldiers
4. The Treaty of Ghent which ended the war was signed in Belgium in 1814
5. Consequences of the War:
a. Produced feelings of patriotism
b. Broke the power of Native Americans
c. Boosted American manufacturing
Chapter 8 Test Questions (10 points each)
1. What circumstances led Francis Scott Key to pen the words that became our National Anthem?
2. Explain what the author intended to convey in each letter section below.
(A) Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
(B) Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
(C) And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
(D) Oh, say does that Star - Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?