Chapter 11; Triumphs & Travails of
Jeffersonian Democracy (1800-1812)
Theme: Jeffersonian Democracy ushered in a new era of rule where the common man is given more power in government & franchise is expanded to include non-property owners.
Theme: The peaceful transition of power from the Federalists to the D-R strengthens the principles of a two-party republican government despite some sharp partisanship.
I. Federalist & Republican Mudslinging
Adams (F) VS. TJ (DR)
* Divided Party w/ Hamilton Mud Slinging:
* Increased taxes * Slave children
* Increased military * Called an atheist
II. Jeffersonian “Revolution of 1800”
Electoral College Vote:
TJ(DR)-73 Adams(F)-65 Burr(DR)-73
When there is no winner in the EC the election goes to the H.O.R. to pick the president (between the top 2 candidates).
Hamilton (Speaker) swings the vote to TJ to break the deadlock b/t TJ & Burr.
Note: +250 in NY & Adams would’ve been re-elected
III. Federalist Finale
Keys: 1) Peaceful transition of power b/t 2 political parties
2) Federalists will fade & die out
Why? i) Hamilton gets shot & killed in a duel
ii) Continued resentment against Federalists for the Alien & Sedition Acts.
iii) Opposition to War of 1812 (that comes later).
IV. Responsibility Breeds Moderation
Trivia: TJ 6’2” (Same as GW).
TJ Inaugural Address
1) “We are all Republicans. We are all Federalists.”
2) Follow GWs Foreign Policy of Isolationism & Neutrality. Avoid foreign entanglements & permanent alliances
3) Represent the common man & expand white male suffrage
Note: Comparison to Andrew Jackson (Jacksonian Democracy);
TJ does not dispense “patronage jobs” like AJ did.
Note: TJ will differ from Theory to Reality
V. TJ restraint helps further Revolution
1) TJ releases Alien & Sedition prisoners
2) Eliminates Excise Tax on Whiskey (loses $1m)
3) Decreases National Debt; Decreases Army & Navy
4) Decreases power of National Bank, but keeps it and rest of Hamilton’s financial program.
VI. “Dead Clutch” of the Judiciary
Marbury V. Madison (1803) — Establishes Judicial Review
*** Who is the Chief Justice? John Marshall Political Party? Federalist
Trivia — He served under GW at Valley Forge
(See Handout)
VII. Pacifist TJ turns into Warrior
1. Barbary Pirates attacking US ships; Pirates want protection $.
TJ Reaction refuses to pay tribute; instead sends navy to Tripoli.
Rebuilds navy, but this time “gunboats” a/k/a “Jeffs” They are not very good. Designed for coastal defense.
VIII. LA Godsend (P.218)
Background: Spain sells (Fr) Napoleon the LA Territory
--1803 Napoleon sells America LA Territory
How? Monroe & Livingston negotiate Treaty for New Orleans
Why? 1) Santo Domingo – Malaria
2) Napoleon needs $ for war in Europe
3) Afraid US will side w/ England when war breaks out & take it anyway.
Constitutional Question: TJ reads the Constitution strictly. No where in the Constitution does it say the federal government can buy land. Therefore, TJ must read the Constitution loosely to do so.
Result: 1) Doubles the size of the US
2) Increases the power of the federal government
IX LA in the Long View
— Lewis & Clark map & explore the West
Hamilton vs. Burr (VP) in a duel. Hamilton shot & killed. 1806 Burr gets arrested for treason on another matter, but released.
X. A Nutcrackered Neutral
1804 TJ re-elected; France declares war on England.
TJ’s foreign policy: Isolationist & Neutral.
Recall, when GW pres. TJ urged GW to go to war w/ Eng.; As Pres.
TJ follows GW foreign policy & remains neutral. Both Fr. & Eng. seizing US ships. Eng. also impressing US sailors.
--Between 1808-1811 6,000 American Ships are seized by the warring parties
1807 Chesapeake Incident: Off the coast of VA a US warship “The Chesapeake” is attacked, boarded & 4 Americans are impressed.
XI. TJ’s Backfiring Embargo “Mad Tom”
*TJ a pacifist; Weakened navy to decrease national debt.
In response to Chesapeake Incident (& others): The US enacts The Embargo Act of 1807
Which says, The US will not ship goods (export) to the rest of the world
Result, destroyed the US economy – especially NE. High unemployment. Smuggling – this time against our own country. Note: DOI grievance re: trade.
1809 Non-intercourse Act — repeals embargo except w/ Eng & France.
Note: passed 3 days after TJ leaves office.
Only positive of the embargo, forces the US (NE) to increase domestic manufacturing b/c unable to get European goods.
XII. TJ’s Legacy
* TJ follows GWs precedent & does not seek a 3rd Term. Madison (DR) becomes the 4th Pres.
Trivia: TJ dies same day as Adams on the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
XIII. Madison: Dupe of Napoleon
Note: Madison had been TJ’s Secretary of State & authored the Embargo Act
Macon’s Bill No. 2 — Continue Non-intercourse Act, but either England or France stopped seizing US ships we would begin to trade w/ that nation.
Napoleon (Fr) promises to stop seizing US ships. (He lied). Will push US to war w/ England.
XIV. War Whoops Arouse the War Hawks P. 227
Who do we fight? Tecumseh & the Prophet unite the western Indians.
American General: William Henry Harrison
Why? WHH gets the Indians drunk & they sign away the state of IL. Tecumseh finds out & goes to war.
Decisive Battle: Battle of Tippicanoe. Indians wiped out.
In AL, Andrew Jackson defeats the Creek Indians
Result of Victories over Indians: Gives US confidence. We believe we now can beat England.
Note: England has been supplying the Indians w/ weapons.
Henry Clay leads the War Hawks. (People who want to go to war)
Who is Henry Clay: Westerner. Will eventually create the Whig Party.
Clay’s followers have 2 Slogans:
1) Free Trade & Sailors Rights
2) On to Canada
1812 US declares war on England (Begins War of 1812).
XIV. Mr. Madison’s War
Why declare war against Eng. instead of France.
1) Napoleon promised he would stop seizing our ships.
2) England was also impressing our sailors.
3) Memories of the Revolutionary War. (2nd War of Independence)
Also, Chesapeake Incident.
4) Madison a D-R (more Pro-French)
5) Visions of seizing Canada. Need a navy to fight France.
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