Democratic-Republicans Take Power The Age of Jefferson

Election of 1800 Dem-Republican 1801-1809 V.P.s Aaron Burr George Clinton Remember, Jefferson was Adams’ V.P.

Republican Principles Dem-Republicans considered the election to be a true revolution A revolution in principles Set-out to do things VERY differently Abandoned Alien and Sedition Acts Abandoned excise taxes on stamps, land, and alcohol Retire the national debt by paying it down

Jefferson’s Policies Believed that the strength of the US was its independent farmers If most people owned their own land they would fight to protect it Believed in small federal government Distrusted standing armies

Reducing the National Debt National debt was $80 million when Jefferson took office, $57 million in 1809 Cut military costs by reducing the size of the army and navy Cut federal bureaucracy (departments and personnel Cut taxes Increased revenues through increased importation of foreign goods Increased revenues through sale of federal lands as Americans moved west

John Marshall’s Supreme Court Jefferson took office in 1801(Dem-Rep) John Marshall became Chief Justice (Fed). Appointed by out-going President Adams Didn’t like each other John Marshall extremely influential Supreme Court (Chief Justice—leader) Federal Government (SC determines constitutionality of federal laws) 35 years on SC, 1,000 court decisions; ½ he wrote More than any other SC Justice in US history

Supreme Court today http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx

Marshall’s 4-Point Legacy Judicial Review Power to review the acts of Congress and the President to determine if they are constitutional Federal Laws superior to State Laws Broad (loose) interpretation of the Constitution Implied powers Marbury v. Madison

Marbury V. Madison 1803, Marshall asserted power of Judicial Review Before leaving office Adams appointed hundreds of people to positions Tried to lock Jefferson out of appointing process One of those appointments was William Marbury Some appointments were not finalized when Jefferson took office Marbury’s appointment was not finalized Madison (Sec of State) refused to deliver the paperwork Marbury complained to the Supreme Court Marshall ruled in favor of Madison by declaring part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional Dem-Rep got what they wanted (Marbury blocked), but it came at a price-- Supreme Court gained a whole lot of power

The Nation Expands The Louisiana Territory

Eyeing the Louisiana Territory Jefferson believed that the strength of the US was its independent farmers If most people owned their own land they would fight to protect it Land ownership freed white (men) people from dependence But with population doubling every 25 years, US was running out of land Jefferson looked westward

From Spanish to French Control Prior to 1801, area west of the Mississippi river was owned by Spain Jefferson believed it would be easily conquered Few Spanish colonists Spanish Empire weak Spanish distracted by war in Europe 1801, French military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of Louisiana Territory Threatened to block US access to New Orleans

Why Not Purchase New Orleans? Wanted to avoid war Offered to buy New Orleans from French James Monroe (Dem-Rep Congressman) and Robert Livingston (Ambassador to France) met with Napoleon Napoleon was receptive He had problems in Haiti; army defeated by slave rebels He needed money--$15 million

Jefferson’s Embarrassment Purchase violated his principles of Small federal government and Strict interpretation of the Constitution Constitution did NOT authorize the President to purchase a territory from another country

Lewis and Clark Expedition In 1804 Meriweather Lewis and William Clark set out to explore the territory

Jefferson’s Foreign Troubles

Fighting the Barbary War Impressments and Trade Bans The Barbary States of North Africa were seizing American ships in Mediterranean Sea Morocco Algiers Tunis Tripoli

Immunity from Piracy Washington and Adams had been willing to pay “protection money” to Barbary States to assure safe passage Jefferson was also willing until Tripoli increased their demand 1801 Jefferson blocked Port of Tripoli Peace was won in 1805 ending the Barbary War

Re-export Trade With more land and more farmers, America was producing a surplus that needed to make it to a new market From 1793-1807, Europe (at war) was the market Britain captured ships most of French merchant ships France couldn’t supply their colonists in W. Indies and sugar exports couldn’t be shipped

Big Business The “Re-export” Business American merchant ships intervened Picked up cargoes in W. Indies and off-loaded in American ports Reshipped cargoes to France as if they were American products (and back the other way) American trade soared from $300,000 in 1790 to $59,000,000 in 1805

Additional Benefits to the U.S. American shippers grew wealthy Invested in the infrastructure Wharves Warehouses Ships Housing Boosting the construction trades in seaports US trade grew as Americans also traded their products w/France & W. Indies

The British caught on to the scam and they weren’t happy Re-export system helped the French economy which provided funds for Napoleon’s army US was quickly becoming G. Britain’s #1 trade competitor British ships began to retaliate

Impressments and Trade Bans British ships began confiscating goods from US ships and impressing American sailors into service on British ships By 1812, about 6,000 American sailors were impressed into service on British warships

Political take on Impressments and Trade Bans Federalists Viewed impressments as unfortunate co-lateral costs of doing business on the high seas Trade w/Britain more imp. Than re-export trade w/France Dem-Rep Felt British actions insulted Americans Threatened US’s economic growth Remember, Dem-Rep favored strong economic growth through small, family farms

Great Britain Goes Too Far Attacked US Warship, the Chesapeake, and impressed US naval personnel into service US OUTRAGED Federalists and Dem-Republicans agreed

Jefferson asks for an embargo US Navy too small to challenge Britain Jefferson didn’t want to invest additional $ Pay down national debt Keep taxes low Avoid war He didn’t trust a large military 1807, Jefferson persuaded Congress to impose an embargo

Embargo of 1807 Suspended trade with Britain Ordered US ships to stay in port Expected embargo would cripple Britain Starving people Closing factories But that didn’t happen Instead, Britain found new markets in South America

Consequences of Embargo Catastrophic for US Bankrupted American Merchants Put American sailors out of work Bankrupted American farmers Exploiting ill-feelings for Dem-Rep because of this failed Embargo, Federalists gain power in northern states Jefferson lifted the embargo just before he retired in 1809

Jefferson Retires from Office 1809 Jefferson was succeeded by James Madison, Dem-Rep

First 4 US Presidents George Washington, 1789-1797, no party affiliation John Adams, 1797-1801, Federalist Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809, Dem-Rep James Madison, 1809-1817, Dem-Rep