1. What does Jefferson deem the essential principles of government?
He believed that states and individuals had certain rights, and to protect those rights.
2. Jefferson refers to the Constitution several times in his address. What does this suggest about
the way he will interpret it when making decisions?
It shows that he will interpret the constitution a lot and that he will probably interpret it in every
decision that he makes regarding to the United States.
3. President Jefferson had two options when he took office, he could pay the tribute demanded by
Tripoli or he could ignore the demands of the pasha and not pay the tribute. What do you think
would have happened if President Jefferson had paid the tribute?
If Jefferson paid the tribute then our country would have gone into debt and our early country
would have failed before it even had a good steady start.
4. Commodore Richard Dale, the leader of the first fleet of ships to the Barbary Coast, neglected to
take matters regarding the shift to war into his own hands. Had he done so, would the outcome
of the war been different?
The outcome of the war would’ve been different because he could’ve taken the first stride of
action, but he didn’t; ultimately making the war longer.
5. Would the length of the war been shortened significantly if he had taken action?
The war would’ve been shorter because he was the leader of the first people who were there so
if they did something, the people after them wouldn’t have had to work as hard, shortening the
war.
6. Was it Constitutional for Jefferson to authorize the Louisiana Purchase?
The purchase was Constitutional because even though the people who currently lived there at
the time would become citizens, the nation needed more land and more people for the land.
Therefore, the purchase actually went towards the Constitution and helped Jefferson out even
though it was a lot of money.
7. What provisions, if any, does the Constitution lay out for making the inhabitants of the Louisiana
territory citizens?
The provisions that the Constitution lays out for making the inhabitants of the Louisiana
territory citizens is that they do not harm the Americans and if they keep peace with us, we will
keep peace with them.
8. Why does Jefferson feel western exploration is important?
Thomas Jefferson feels western exploration is important because he bought all that new land for
his country and he wanted for them to move westward to expand the United States and for the
next people who went there to have an idea of what is going on, ultimately making our country
stronger.
9. Why does he choose Meriwether Lewis to lead this expedition?
Thomas Jefferson chooses Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition because he has proven
himself a natural leader who is educated in the arts, drawing, collecting, and making notes
about the new founding’s that he will discover.
10. What are Jefferson's domestic goals at the time of his second inaugural address?
Jefferson’s domestic goals at the time of his second inaugural address was to create a better
United States, no trading with any other countries, and to move westward.
11. How does Jefferson plan to keep America neutral at the time of his second address?
Jefferson plans to keep America neutral at the time of his second address by creating the
Embargo Act.
12. Overall the Embargo Act was seen as a failure. Do you agree with this? If not, in what ways was
it successful?
I agree that the Embargo Act was a failure because we had all that time to trade goods with the
countries that had no part in the war between France and Britain.
13. How did the Embargo and Non-Intercourse Acts affect the economy of the United States?
The Embargo Act and the Non-Intercourse Act both reduced the economy of the United States
because the prevented American traders from trading with all other countries ultimately leading
us to not having certain things to provide to American citizens.