Thomas Jefferson and the Rise of the Republicans
I. America in 1800
A. In 1800, the USA was a new nation that shared North America with Spain, France, England, & Russia
B. The USA experienced intense population growth and westward expansion (new states: KY, TN, Ohio)
C. The American Economy in 1800: 84% of Americans directly involved in agriculture
1. The Southern economy centered around tobacco, rice, & cotton (after 1793)
2.
In the North, most people were invested in livestock & grains; Industrialization was slowly beginning
3.
Cities were a marginal part of American life
II. Jefferson as President (1801-1805)
A. Jefferson had clear goals as president: reduce the role of gov’t, repeal Federalist policies, & maintain peace
B. Jeffersonian Reforms
1. Repealed excise taxes, cut military spending, reduced U.S. debt, killed the Bank of the United States
2.
3.
Overturned Adam’s Judiciary Act of 1801 (“Midnight Appointments”)
a.
This act flooded the federal courts with Federalists, including John Marshall
b.
Controversy led to Marbury v. Madison (1803) & concept of “Judicial Review”
Bought Louisiana from France in 1803
a. Jefferson abandoned “strict construction” & denied Louisiana residents self-rule
b.
4.
Increased tensions with Native Americans:
a. Tecumseh swayed Indian tribes to avoid selling land to America
b.
5.
Commissioned the Louis & Clark expedition to survey the Louisiana territory
Jefferson (& others) hoped to civilize Indians into yeoman farmers in a vast western reservation
Led the U.S. to a successful victory over the Barbary States & gained international respect for the U.S.
III. Jefferson’s Second Term (1805-1809)
A. Jefferson won reelected in 1804 for maintaining peace, reducing taxes, & Louisiana but his 2 nd term was divisive
B. Without Federalists to oppose, the two-party system was suspended:
1. The Democratic-Republicans dominated the legislative & executive branches
2.
But, the party became factious as the “Tertium Quids” criticized Jefferson lack of virtue
C. The Yazoo Controversy
1. When GA politicians sold 35 million acres of fraudulent land, Jefferson was criticized for upholding the sales
2.
The Supreme Court in Fletcher v. Peck (1810) established that the courts may overturn state laws
D. Jefferson endured criticism in the South for pressing for a Congressional bill end the slave trade in 1808
E. In 1803, England & France resumed war & violated U.S. neutrality rights
1. Jefferson refused to go to war & approved an embargo restricting trade with England & France in 1807
2.
The embargo was both unpopular and ineffective: it hurt NE more than Europe & was expensive to enforce
IV. Conclusions