The 1800 Revolution and Thomas Jefferson's Presidency

Growing Pains: The New Republic, 1790-1820 THE 1800 REVOLUTION AND THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENCY The first party switch in American history occurred in 1800, when Democratic- Republican Thomas Jefferson won the presidency. This event is known as the "Revolution of 1800." The nonviolent change of power allayed current concerns about potentially violent responses to a new political party seizing power. An significant precedent was also created when political control was transferred from one political party to another without violence. The Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties ran unprecedented mudslinging campaigns, making the election even more polarizing than the one in 1796. Politically speaking, the Democratic-Republicans gained ground because of the severe division among the Federalists. Disappointed with President Adams's strategy in France, Alexander Hamilton penned a long letter, intended only for party members, criticizing the morality and judgment of his fellow Federalist and making fun of the way he handled foreign policy. Republicans who lean Democratic took hold of the letter and gladly republished it. Jefferson, in stark contrast to Federalist beliefs, saw participatory democracy as a force for good in the nation. However, the beneficiaries of his interpretation of participatory democracy were limited to the White yeoman farmers who were highly trusted by Jefferson. Although proponents of the Federalist movement, such as those who drafted the 1787 federal constitution, expressed concern over an absolute democracy, Jefferson remained considerably more confident in the ability of the average American farmer to make wise choices. He was a supporter of majority rule, which holds that choices should be made by the majority of citizens and should be binding on the whole. Even though the French republic started the Terror to make sure the monarchy would not return, Jefferson had supported the French Revolution. But by 1799, he had turned his back on France as a result of his disapproval of Napoleon's coup and establishment of a dictatorship. Jefferson turned away from urban commercial growth throughout his two years as president (he was reelected in 1804), reversing the Federalist Party's goals. Rather, he sold western public lands in ting, reasonably priced portions to support agriculture. One of Jefferson's greatest contributions to history may be his idea of a "empire of liberty." He had mistrust for cities and instead saw White men who owned land living in a rural republic, known as yeoman republican farmers. He envisioned the United States as the global breadbasket, exporting its agricultural products while avoiding the negative effects of industrialization and urbanization. American yeomen would be able to resist attempts to bribe their votes with promises of property since they would own their own land. Jefferson defended state sovereignty and advocated for constrained federal authority and taxation. This was in direct opposition to the Federalists' demand for a powerful, involved federal government. Jefferson supported budgetary restraint as well. He advocated for the removal of all internal taxes, including those on rum and whiskey, and Congress agreed. The largest cut to the government budget was made at the expense of the armed forces. Jefferson reduced the size of the fleet that Adams had fought so hard to assemble because he did not think it was necessary to maintain an expensive military. Jefferson still led the United States into battle against the Muslim Barbary States in 1801, the first war that Americans fought abroad, in retaliation for pirates capturing American ships and soldiers off the coast of North Africa. One party dominance dominated American politics for a while as a result of the gradual fall of the Federalists, which started under Jefferson. The "Virginia dynasty" of the 1815-1828 period is noted by historians, who refer to it as the "Era of Good Feelings" because both of the presidents who succeeded Jefferson-James Madison and James Monroe-came from his native state. They were Democratic Republicans and owned slaves, just like him. The days of the Federalists as major figures in determining both domestic and international policy were over, although their continued appeal, particularly in the Northeast.