CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3 JEFFERSON ALTERS THE NATION’S COURSE

A.) JEFFERSON WINS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1800 Adams (Federalist) vs. Jefferson (Republican): To Republicans, Adams was a tool of the rich who wanted to turn the executive branch into a British style monarchy. To Federalists, Jefferson was a supporter of revolutionary France, and an atheist bent on destroying organized religion. Americans were not accustomed to a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another.

The 1800 Presidential Election Results Jefferson (Republican) ties Aaron Burr (Republican). Burr and Jefferson defeated Adams (Federalist) by 8 electoral votes. The tie would be decided by the House of Representatives. Alexander Hamilton opposed Jefferson’s policies but felt that Burr would be a bigger threat to the Federalist party. Hamilton would persuade Federalist representatives to vote for Jefferson. As a result of the 1800 election, Congress would pass the 12th Amendment which called for electors to cast separate ballots for President and Vice President. This system is still in effect today.

Peaceful Transfer of Power The peaceful transfer of power from one party to another showed the world that the American Republic could withstand political change. “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. . . We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists”. Thomas Jefferson Jefferson planned to restore Republican ideals of 1776 against the strong-government policies of Federalism.

Simplifying the Presidency Jefferson believed in simple government. As a symbolic gesture, he walked to his own inauguration rather than ride in a carriage. Jefferson believed in decentralized power: reducing the size of the federal government the size of the army halted a planned expansion of the navy lowered expenses for government social gatherings. eliminated all internal taxes reduced the influence of the Bank of the United States. favored free trade, rather than government controlled trade & tariffs. He believed that free trade would increase our trade with Europe.

Southern Dominance of Politics Washington D.C. was carefully chosen, between Virginia & Maryland, in order to reflect the union of the North and South. Federalists were experiencing a declining political authority in the US. Jefferson’s political moderation & the expansion of the US worked against the Federalists. Settlers who moved to new states and territories would predominately vote Republican.

THE FEDERALISTS LOSE POWER - Jefferson worked to reduce the power of the Federalists in government. He replaced Federalist officials with Republican ones. By 1803, the government bureaucracy was more evenly balanced between Republicans and Feds.

John Marshall & the Supreme Court (MIDNIGHT JUDGES) - Federalist still held power in the Supreme Court after the election of 1800. To ensure that the Federalists’ remained in control John Adams pushed a law through congress called the Judiciary Act of 1801. The Act increased the number of judges to 16 (midnight judges) and appointed John Marshall, a Federalist, as chief justice of the Supreme Court. Jefferson and the Republican party would work to destroy the Judiciary Act.

Marbury v. Madison - William Marbury, one of the judges that Adams appointed, never received his official papers for his appointment. James Madison, who was Jefferson’s Secretary of State, refused to give Marbury his papers since he believed that the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional. The issue went to the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that Madison had the authority to refuse a presidential appointment to the Supreme Court. Republicans were happy with the result. Federalists were happy because the Supreme Court’s decision established the principle of judicial review. Now, the Supreme Court could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.

Hamilton Duels with Burr - Hamilton was still a powerful figure in the Federal Government. Hamilton convinced members of the House of Reps to vote for Jefferson, not Burr, in the 1800 election. In 1804, Hamilton backed Aaron Burr’s opponent in the New York political race for governor. Hamilton described Burr as a ‘dangerous man’ and ‘not to be trusted’. Burr was infuriated and publicly challenged Hamilton to a duel. Though Hamilton hated dueling he accepted Burr’s challenge. Hamilton fired in the air but Burr fired and killed Hamilton. The Federalists had lost their leader and Burr’s political life was ruined.

THE UNITED STATES EXPAND WEST - Americans continued to migrate west of the Appalachian Mountains. From 1800 to 1810 the population of Ohio grew from 45,000-231,000. Kentucky, Tennessee, and bordering territories also grew in population. Pioneers traveled through the Cumberland Gap (a natural passage through the Appalachian Mts.) & the Wilderness Road that was created by Daniel Boone and other settlers.

The Louisiana Purchase - In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte acquired the Louisiana Territory from the Spanish and wanted to use the land as a ‘bread basket’ for the French West Indies. Jefferson feared that a strong French presence in the middle of North America would make American citizens favor a treaty with the British. Jefferson sent James Monroe & Robert Livingston to Paris in an attempt to acquire Florida and New Orleans. By the time the Americans got there, Napoleon had abandoned his dream of a French Empire in the US. France’s biggest and most profitable colony, Haiti, had been taken over by enslaved Africans. Napoleon believed there was no reason to keep the territory and sold it to the US for 15 million. Jefferson submitted the treaty to the Senate and they approved it. Jefferson believed that Republican ideals would spread to the new land as more Americans settled in the west. Though Jefferson wanted to simplify and decentralize the federal government he ended up expanding the powers of the President & increased the size of the United States without consulting the other branches.

Lewis & Clark In 1803, Jefferson appointed Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific coast. Jefferson wanted Lewis and Clark to conduct scientific experiments, keep a detailed journal of the experiences, and to document the native cultures they found. Lewis and Clark hired 50 soldiers and woodsmen to go on expedition with them. Later, Sacajawea would travel with Lewis and Clark and would serve as an interpreter and guide. The expedition took 2 years and 4 months. It would open the way for settlement of the west and American claims to the Oregon Territory in the Northwest Coast.