The
Early
Republic
The Jeffersonian Years
1788 - 1808
Jefferson’s Inaugural Address
Conciliatory
 “Every difference of opinion…not a difference of principle.”
 “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”
Policy statements
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Economy in government
Unrestricted trade
Freedom of religion, the press, and person (habeas corpus)
Friendship to all nations but “entangling alliances” with none
America, “the world’s best hope,” would flourish if a
limited government left men “free to regulate their
own pursuits.”
Jefferson’s Goals
Jefferson’s goals as president were to:
 Reduce
 Cost of government
 Size of government
 Repeal heinous acts passed by Adams
administration
 Maintain international peace
Jefferson’s “wise and frugal”
government
Jefferson’s plan to reduce the national debt
included:
 Reducing the number of government
employees
 Slashing the army and the navy
 Repealing all taxes except the tariff
 Paying off national debt
You might want to remember this slide
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
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
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
The Louisiana Purchase
The Lewis and Clark
Expedition
The Lewis & Clark Expedition
(1804 – 1806)
Expedition had both scientific & commercial purposes
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Study area’s geography, plants, & animal life
Discover how region might be exploited economically
Hoped to establish trade relations w/ western Indians
Hoped to discover elusive water route to Pacific
Expedition important for three reasons
 Brought back immense amount of info
 Journey demonstrated feasibility of overland route to Pacific
 Helped strengthen the idea that America was destined to reach across
the continent
You might want to remember this slide
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
The Barbary Coast
The Tripolitan Wars
Stephen Decatur
Burning the Philadelphia
To the Shores of Tripoli
The Chesapeake & Leopard Affair
The Embargo Act of 1807
With France and Britain at war once again both
countries began to prey on US shipping and
sailors.
In an attempt to bring France and Britain under
control without resorting to actually open
conflict President Jefferson recommended that
Congress enact an embargo against both
countries.
The embargoes would include grain, cotton and
tobacco.
The Embargo Act or 1807
Congress passed the Embargo Act in December
1807 and other, related acts in January, March
and April 1808.
The supplemental acts went on to include
coasting vessels, fishing ships and smugglers.
Congress passed stiff penalties and authorized
captains of US naval vessels and customs
inspectors to stop and search any ship within
US jurisdiction they had “reason to suspect”
was in violation of the Embargo Acts.
The Embargo Act of 1807
With such measures, Congress and the President
conveniently ignored that the Fourth
Amendment, which was meant to protect
people “against unreasonable searches and
seizures” provided that no search warrant
would issue absent “probable cause” – a much
higher standard than suspicion or mere
opinion.
The Embargo Act of 1807
Very unpopular in New England where commerce and shipping was an
important industry.
New Englanders observed a better title would be “an act for the better
encouragement of the British colonies in America” because skilled
seaman from New England moved to Canada so they could practice
their trade.
State of insurrection declared in April, 1808 in the Lake Champlain area.
Massachusetts legislature declares the Act “unjust, oppressive and
unconstitutional, and not legally binding on the citizens of this state.”
Delaware and Connecticut follow with similar messages.
Jefferson, just days prior to his end of term, signed a bill repealing the
embargo and permitting trade with the rest of the world with the
exception of Britain and France, and providing the chief executive
with the option to reopen trade with which ever beligerant ceased to
interfere with American shipping.
Macon’s Bill #2
Replaced Nonintercourse Act of 1809
Reopened trade with “Warring Powers”
(Great Britain & France)
Provided that:
 If either nation dropped its restrictions on American trade;
 America would reimpose nonintercourse on the other
nation