1. The Jeffersonian Era: Jefferson-War of 1812
The New Nation Part II
The Jeffersonian Era:
Jefferson-War of 1812

2. Jefferson Simplifies Government
Jefferson’s election ended the Federalist period
He was the first Democratic-Republican president
He was the first to serve in the District of Columbia
He made the president appear more like common Americans
because he did away with certain formalities
Decreased the size of the federal government:
Cut government bureaucracy
Reduced the size of the Army & Navy
Reduce national debt by almost half despite eliminating some taxes
Paid debt by selling western federal lands
“That government which governs least, governs best” Thomas Paine
Jefferson believed in this philosophy, too!

3. Marbury v Madison
Before leaving office, John Adams had the Judiciary Act of 1801 passed that would create
16 new federal judgeships in an attempt to keep Federalist in control of one branch of the
federal government (midnight appointments)
William Marbury did not receive his appointment and sued for his position
The Supreme Court (Chief Justice John Marshall) ruled against Marbury in the 1803 case
Marbury v. Madison which established judicial review – the ability of the Supreme Court
to rule and act of Congress unconstitutional.
4. William Marbury did not get to become a judge 
Marbury

4. Louisiana Purchase – 1803
From France (Napoleon)
For $15 million
Gave US control of Mississippi River & New Orleans
Doubled the size of the United States
WAS IT CONSTITUTIONAL – JEFFERSON THOUGHT PROBABLY NOT
BUT DID IT ANYWAY!

5. Lewis & Clark Expedition 1803-1805
Guided by Shoshone woman:
Sacajawea
Lasted nearly 2 ½ years
Purpose of Expedition:
Map out geography of region
Observe Native peoples
Usable route to the Pacific coast
Helped pave the way for westward expansion

6. Jefferson Maintains Neutrality
Due to the conflict between Britain & France, American shipping rights were being violated
Both France & Britain seized cargos from American ships, but the British impressed American sailors (kidnapped them & forced them into service in the British navy) leading some Americans to call for war
Jefferson wanted to avoid war if at all possible
Chesapeake Incident: (1807)British navy fired upon an American ship and boarded it searching for British deserters, killing 3 Americans
Embargo Act of 1807: In response to the Chesapeake incident & as an attempt to avoid war, Jefferson convinced Congress to stop all foreign trade & keep American ships docked in the US with the embargo (Hoped stopping US trade would damage Britain & France’s economies & force them to stop seizing American ships
Embargo hurt American economy more than Britain or France and was lifted by Jefferson before leaving office in 1809

7. Jefferson Leaves office in 1809
Jefferson followed the two term tradition of Washington
and did not seek a third term as president.
He returned home to his beloved Monticello in Virginia
and founded the University of Virginia because he
believed education was key to sustaining government

8. Election of 1808

9. James Madison takes office in 1809 &
inherits the trade issues with Britain
and France (British impressments &
French seizure of US ships)
Native Americans along the western
frontier renew their resistance against
American expansion, with the aid of
the British
James Madison
4th US President
During Madison’s administration, the War of 1812 would be fought
between the British and the US.

10. Battle of Tippecanoe
1811
Shawnee Indian Tecumseh and his brother encouraged Native Americans tribes to
again form a confederacy to stop the advance of white settlement
Indiana Territory governor William Henry Harrison led US troops into the Indian
settlement of Prophetstown along the Tippecanoe River and defeated Natives led
by Tecumseh’s brother.
The defeat of the Natives by the US forces pushed some Natives, especially
Tecumseh, to make alliances with the British during the War of 1812
Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of Thames during the War of 1812, and his
death signaled the weakening of Native support for the British
Battle of Tippecanoe made Harrison a war hero & helped him become president of the US
in 1840

11. American’s Demand War!!
American’s wanted to go to war with Britain – not France because:
British Impressments of American sailors (France didn’t impress)
British armed & supported Native American aggression
Desire to expand – wanted to take British Canada & Spanish Florida
War Hawks: Calhoun
& Clay
War Hawks: members of Congress who supported going to war
Led by Henry Clay of Kentucky & John Calhoun of South Carolina
South & West supported going to war
Northeast opposed war for economic reasons
Madison asks Congress to declare war on Britain in June 1812.

13. See worksheets: The War of 1812 &
The War of 1812 Battle Map for notes
And information of the actual war!! You
Received these in class!