American Pageant

The Jeffersonian ‘Revolution of 1800  Jefferson beats Adams in election and calls this the “Revolution of 1800”. o Tie between Adams and Jefferson but House votes for Jefferson. o Jefferson’s mission was to check government power and to halt the decay of civic virtue under Federalist rule. o Remarkable in the sense that such a new nation could so peacefully transfer power, even with so much tension between political parties.  John Adams was the last federalist president. The party completely died when later president Andrew Jackson merged the parties. Responsibility Breeds Moderation  Wrote a well phrased inaugural statement that supported unity between federalists and republicans: “we are all federalists, we are all republicans”. o Also pledged “honest-friendship” with all nations without having any alliances.  Jefferson frequently reversed the political principles that he championed. o He realized that the theories in textbooks worked out differently in the real world.  Democrat-Republican party could not build a loyal base. o Only thing that held them together was hatred of federalists.  When the federalist party collapsed, so did the democrat-republicans. Jeffersonian Restraint  Jefferson was determined to undo the federalist laws against anti-federalists. o Alien and Sedition Acts expired already and Jeffersonians enacted Naturalization Law of 1802.  This reduced the requirement for citizenship from 14 years to 5 years. o Also removed excise taxes  Jefferson held onto many Federalist economic programs o Did not change the Bank of United States, funding at par, mild protective tariffs, and allowed federal government to be responsible for states’ debts. o Further cemented gains of Revolution of 1800 by showing that a change in regime did not have to be disastrous for the defeated group, The “Dead Clutch” of the Judiciary  Judiciary Act of 1801 o Created 16 new judgeships and other judicial offices  These offices were known as “midnight judges” because Adams reportedly appointed them the midnight before he left office. o Republicans saw this as a federalist effort to “pack” the judicial system to entrench itself in one branch of government. o John Adams appointed John Marshall as chief justice of Supreme Court during his last days in office.   Marshall was a vigilant federalist. o Even after the federalist party collapsed, Marshall continued to support federalist ideology in the judicial branch. Marbury v. Madison o Federalist “midnight judge” William Marbury sued secretary of State James Madison because Madison was about to fire him.  John Marshall dismissed the suit to avoid a direct political showdown. o Marshall magnified power of supreme court.  Kentucky resolutions gave States the right to determine the meaning of the constitution but Marshall promoted the idea of “judicial review”- the idea that the supreme court had the last word on the question of constitutionality. o Angry Jefferson tried to impeach Supreme court justice Samuel Chase but the Senate did not have the votes.  Set precedent that Supreme Court is independent of other 2 parties and no one since has tried to impeach a Supreme Court justice. Jefferson, a reluctant Warrior  One of Jefferson’s first actions as president was to reduce military to mere police force of 2500 members. o Wanted America to transcend the bloody wars and alliances of Europe. o Republicans distrusted large armies – they were seen as a path to dictatorship. o Jefferson had to face the reality when Tripoli prates informally declared war.  Tripolitan War o Tripoli prates informally declared war on U.S. by plundering U.S. merchant ships.  “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute”.  Jefferson did not want to pay tribute, so he sent the infant navy to the Mediterranean. o Peace treaty was reached in 1805 – U.S. only had to pay 60,000 dollars in ransom money. The Louisiana Godsend  Napoleon induced the Spanish to cede the Louisiana area. o Angered Americans because Spain withdrew from Pinckney’s Treaty.  Jefferson sent James Monroe to France to negotiate buying New Orleans and some other land.  Louisiana Purchase o Napoleon decided to offer the entire Louisiana area due to his loss in Haiti.  Haitian revolution squashed Napoleon’s plans to create an American empire. o 3 Treaties were signed in 1803 and the U.S. bought the land for 15 million dollars for – 3 cents an acre. o Jefferson wrestled with his Republican base who claimed that the Constitution did not allow for land purchases. Louisiana in the Long View  Jefferson wanted to use land for agriculture.  Established a precedent for expansion through purchase rather than military conquest and accepting the acquired people as equals rather than subordinate. o French in Louisiana learned that the U.S. government allowed them to continue their Legal code based on French laws. Even today, Louisiana state laws have French origins.  Louisiana purchase eliminated the last of the major enemies bordering the country. o Helped the U.S. enter its long-desired isolationist period.  Corps of Discovery o Meriwether Louis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery to explore the new purchase and to establish good relations with Indians in the area. o 2½ year expedition yielded many scientific observations, knowledge about Indians in the area, and resources available. The Aaron Burr Conspiracies  Sudden addition of such a large piece of land drew concerns that secession was eminent due to a weak government controlling a large expanse of land. o Aaron Burr, Jefferson’s first term V.P., provoked these fears.  Burr joined a group of Federalists and plotted the secession of New England.  Alexander Hamilton foiled the plan and Burr challenged him to a duel. Burr killed Hamilton and this destroyed the Federalists’ last hope for effective Federalist leadership.  Burr was tried for treason when he tried to launch an attack on Mexico. Chief Justice John Marshall adhered to constitution and said there wasn’t enough evidence for treason. o Burr fled to Europe afterwards.  Aaron Burr conspiracies showed that it was one thing to purchase land, but it was another thing to be able to govern it effectively. A Precarious Neutrality  England and France went to war in 1803-1814. o England ordered the Orders in Council and France had a similar decree.  All ships could not stop at the ports of the opposing country unless they were to stop at the home country (between England and France).  Restricted American commerce with both countries. o England engaged in impressment again and the Chesapeake affair occurred.  A royal frigate demanded the surrender of 4 alleged deserters but the U.S. ship Chesapeake refused.  British ship fired into the U.S. ships and killed several Americans. o Jefferson remained Neutral. Embargo Act  Congress passed Embargo Act in 1807. This outlawed the export of all goods from U.S. o Goal was to coerce Britain and France into respecting the Neutrality of U.S. and reopening free trade with the U.S. by showing how dependent Europe was on the U.S.  England and France did not need the U.S. because south American and other countries were eager to do business with England and France.  Angered Americans plunged the U.S. into economic problems. o Illegal trade mushroomed and New England ports fell silent.  Congress passed Non-Intercourse Act in 1809 to repeal Embargo Act. o Reopened trade with all other nations except England and France.  Embargo Act laid the foundations for modern America’s industrial might. o Factories were erected in New England as shipping was outlawed. Madison’s Gamble  James Madison, a democratic-republican, took office after Thomas Jefferson.  The Non-Intercourse act expired in 1810 and Congress passed Macon’s Bill No.2. o If either Britain or France repealed its commercial restrictions, America would restore its embargo against the non-repealing nation. o The French struck a deal with the U.S. but neither France nor England stuck to their promises. The U.S. upheld the French deal and re-established the embargo against Britain. This ended U.S. neutrality and was the final step towards war. Tecumseh and the Prophet  War Hawks were republicans who wanted the U.S. to go to war with England.  Tecumseh and his brother (known as “the Prophet”) gathered together a league of Indians to resist the U.S. o William Henry Harrison gathered an army and advanced on Tecumseh’s headquarters.  Battle of Tippecanoe o Harrison defeated “The Prophet” and Tecumseh escaped to make an alliance with Britain. Tecumseh would fight with the British in the war of 1812. Mr. Madison’s War  James Madison believed war was inevitable: war hawks in the U.S. and hostile British and Indians all pointed towards war.   Madison asked Congress to declare war on June 1, 1812 and Congress obliged. Federalists opposed conflict with England. They sympathized with England and did not like the pro-French republicans. o New England was the Federalist stronghold. o The U.S. had to fight 2 enemies: Old England and New England.  New England supplied a lot of supplies like foods, gold, and money to England in this time period.