the life, times, presidency, and dichotomy of a founding father
TRANSCRIPT
The Life, times, presidency, and dichotomy of a founding father
•Born in Virginia
•Graduate of William and Mary College
•A practicing lawyer and member of Virginia’s House of
Burgesses
•Father of the Declaration of Independence
•Secretary of State under President Washington
•Vice President under Adams
•Born in Virginia
•Graduate of William and Mary College
•A practicing lawyer and member of Virginia’s House of
Burgesses
•Father of the Declaration of Independence
•Secretary of State under President Washington
•Vice President under Adams
Anti-British/Pro-French•Almost allied with England and went to war with France
to force Napoleon out of New Orleans.
Against slavery•Owned 200 slaves
Strict Construction of Constitution
•Used loose construction of Constitution to justify his purchase of the Louisiana territory
Jefferson realized that “ideas” are often hard to put into
practice in the “real world”.
Two men ran for the party nomination: Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
Jefferson & Burr received an equal number of votes in the Electoral CollegeThis meant that the Federalist-dominated House of Representatives was required to choose a president
Hamilton disagreed on most issues Jefferson stood on
Hamilton personally disliked Jefferson and believed Burr to be “a most unfit and dangerous man.”
It took 35 ballots, but Jefferson finally won.
Significance of Election of 1800 • Peaceful transfer of power from one political party to
another (bloodless revolution)• “RevolutionaryRevolutionary” achievement
• Jefferson referred to his victory and the subsequent change-over as “the bloodless revolution”
Significance of Election of 1800 • Peaceful transfer of power from one political party to
another (bloodless revolution)• “RevolutionaryRevolutionary” achievement
• Jefferson referred to his victory and the subsequent change-over as “the bloodless revolution”
John S. Adams Thomas Jefferson Federalist Democratic/Republican
John S. Adams Thomas Jefferson Federalist Democratic/Republican
Election of 1800:Election of 1800: For the second time, a president was saddled with a vice-president he did not want
2. To eliminate future problems1212thth Amendment: Amendment: Requires electors to specify which person they want for President and VP on separate ballots so their would never be a tie.
electoral college
FederalistsFederalists Democratic RepublicansDemocratic RepublicansAdams--Pres---65 Jefferson---Pres.---73
Burr---VP----73
Jefferson integrated democratic principles into
presidency, including walking, pell-mell dining,
casual dress Set precedent of sending messages to Congress to be read, rather than speaking
himself Jefferson dismissed few
Federalist appointments, used very little patronage,
consistent with conciliatory inaugural
address Jefferson as politician used personal charm to sway
congressional representatives
Jefferson integrated democratic principles into
presidency, including walking, pell-mell dining,
casual dress Set precedent of sending messages to Congress to be read, rather than speaking
himself Jefferson dismissed few
Federalist appointments, used very little patronage,
consistent with conciliatory inaugural
address Jefferson as politician used personal charm to sway
congressional representatives
• New type of democracy
• Champion for the common mancommon man
• Believed education would prepare citizens for participation in
government• Believed Believed educationeducation the key to the key to social social
mobilitymobility• Educated should rule
(sound familiar?)
• Continued to uphold the
treaties signed by Adams& Washington
• Followed policy of neutrality
• Did not attack tariffs, Bank,
funding at par, or assumption
of debt
WHY?• Felt Federalist diplomats signed good treaties with England, Spain, France, and kept US out of war.
• The Bank of the United States was helping to get the country out of debt
• Federalists preserved democratic gains, while fending off anarchy
• Wanted to help 2-party system by showing that defeat (for Federalists) didn’t mean disaster
Jefferson axed a few Federalist policiesJefferson axed a few Federalist policies
• Pardoned those convicted under expired Sedition Act
• Reduced residency requirement for citizenship back to 5 years
• Pardoned those convicted under expired Sedition Act
• Reduced residency requirement for citizenship back to 5 years
Under Hamilton, the government had borrowed money to finance national growthHe thought debt was a good thing: If the government borrowed from its rich citizens, those citizens would have a vested interest in the country’s growth
Jefferson decided to abandon this policy, trimmed the federal budget, and cut taxes, all of which he succeeded in doing.
•Jefferson’s Presidency is considered a transitional period in
US History. •Many historians look at this time
period as the beginning of the true democracy.
• TJ believed the National Government became too powerful
during Adam’s Presidency•Would try to reduce National
Govt. power but actually expands Presidential power.
KING GEORGEKING GEORGE FEDERALISTS FEDERALISTS JEFFERSON JEFFERSON
•Visualized an Visualized an agrarian societyagrarian society •Feared Feared industrializationindustrialization and its and its
effectseffects•FarmersFarmers were the chosen class. were the chosen class.
•Laissez faireLaissez faire--govt. stays out of --govt. stays out of peoplepeople’’s livess lives
•Felt slavery would eventually end but predicted Felt slavery would eventually end but predicted it would divide countryit would divide country
•Ultimate goal: African Americans would Ultimate goal: African Americans would assimilateassimilate into American society into American society
•Co-existence with Co-existence with Native AmericansNative Americans was a long was a long range goal but felt they would have to learn range goal but felt they would have to learn agricultural ways and become self-sufficientagricultural ways and become self-sufficient•For the time being, felt For the time being, felt Native Americans & Native Americans & whiteswhites could not could not co-existco-exist and worked towards and worked towards voluntary removalvoluntary removal of tribes to western lands of tribes to western lands
•Great Britain’s land after 1783
•United States in 1783
•Spanish land
• New Orleans is a highly desirable port. WHY?
French Land French Land in 1801in 1801
•In 1800, France & Spain signed secret pacts & France acquires
Louisiana & New Orleans
The French and Spanish developed this port city during the eighteenth century.
By century's end many in the United States saw New Orleans as a key to the new nation's future expansion and
prosperity.
The French and Spanish developed this port city during the eighteenth century.
By century's end many in the United States saw New Orleans as a key to the new nation's future expansion and
prosperity.
• Jefferson knew that the French would use their New Orleans’ strategic location to restrict American trade along
the river
•He offered to buy New Orleans and as much of the Mississippi Valley as possible from France ($10 million)
• Jefferson knew that the French would use their New Orleans’ strategic location to restrict American trade along
the river
•He offered to buy New Orleans and as much of the Mississippi Valley as possible from France ($10 million)
•Toussaint L’Ouverture, former slave led a slave rebellion in French Haiti.
•Napoleon was unable to put down this rebellion. He had wanted to use this island as stepping stone into America
•Forced him to abandon his dream of a French America.
•Toussaint L’Ouverture, former slave led a slave rebellion in French Haiti.
•Napoleon was unable to put down this rebellion. He had wanted to use this island as stepping stone into America
•Forced him to abandon his dream of a French America.
• Since Napoleon lost Haiti & was at war with Great Britain, he offered the entire Louisiana
Territory to US for $15 million
• Jefferson authorizes the purchased of the Louisiana
Territory, making it an excellent bargain (about 3 cents an acre)
•Doubled the size of the US
• Considered Jefferson’s greatest accomplishment
•Why? Didn’t fight a war; no blood shed.
• Since Napoleon lost Haiti & was at war with Great Britain, he offered the entire Louisiana
Territory to US for $15 million
• Jefferson authorizes the purchased of the Louisiana
Territory, making it an excellent bargain (about 3 cents an acre)
•Doubled the size of the US
• Considered Jefferson’s greatest accomplishment
•Why? Didn’t fight a war; no blood shed.
Map 7 of 45
Expansion of the United Stateswith Louisiana Purchase 1803
In 1805, the British and French were at war and at a
stalemate. In an effort to gain an advantage, each side began blockading the other’s trade
routes.
• The US, dependent on both as trade partners, suffered greatly from the blockades.
• To add insult to injury, the British began stopping American ships and impressing them again
•1807, the USS Chesapeake was sent to protect US merchant ships 10 miles off the coast of Virginia.
•A British ship in the region ordered it to stop, but it refused.
•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered
•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed
•1807, the USS Chesapeake was sent to protect US merchant ships 10 miles off the coast of Virginia.
•A British ship in the region ordered it to stop, but it refused.
•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered
•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed
Chesapeake affair
Most Americans were angered over this incident and public opinion was to go to war with the British
Most Americans were angered over this incident and public opinion was to go to war with the British
Chesapeake article
Regarding the Chesapeake Affair, the Washington
Federalist reported,
“We have never, on any occasion, witnessed the spirit
of the people excited to so great a degree of
indignation, or such a thirst for revenge, as on hearing of the late unexampled outrage
on the Chesapeake. All parties, ranks and
professions were unanimous in their detestation of the
dastardly deed, and all cried aloud for vengeance.”
• He decided to boycott by convincing Congress to pass the Embargo Act of 1807.
•This cut off trade with all foreign nations
•By cutting off trade with them, he hoped that it would force them to respect US neutrality (aka
economic coercion)
• He decided to boycott by convincing Congress to pass the Embargo Act of 1807.
•This cut off trade with all foreign nations
•By cutting off trade with them, he hoped that it would force them to respect US neutrality (aka
economic coercion)
While boycotting, he decided to increase military & naval expenditures
• Embargo Act hurt the US because it basically shut down America’s import and export business, causing disastrous economic results
• New England’s economy collapsed (talks of secession started), and smuggling became widespread
• Jefferson thus repealed the unsuccessful Embargo Act and did not run again for president.
• Born in Virginia, 1755• Served as an officer with General
Washington during the Revolution• Attended College of William and
Mary and became a practicing attorney.
• 2nd cousin of Thomas Jefferson.
• Marshall became a committed Federalist where his court decisions would reflect the need for a strong national government over the states.
• Dominated court for 34 years, long after Federalist party died out.
How economic pressures, national pride, and strange alliances brought war to a young nation.
• France and Britain or long time mortal enemies• Both are in an arms race with each other• Navies compete for control of the seas• Napoleon becomes emperor and the Napoleonic Wars
begin (1803)• Jefferson tries to keep the United States out of the war
The Napoleonic Wars
• America becomes the shipping leader of European/American goods between the U.S. and Europe in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s
• Battle of Trafalgar destroys the French Navy• In response Napoleon tries to disrupt British
trade through the “Continental System” a series of laws and embargos that forbade British merchants and its allies from trading in French controlled ports
• Puts U.S. in a tough spot• In response Britain establishes a blockade
keeping American Ships from the European Continent trying to cut supplies to the French
The closing of Markets to American goods
• Britain has lots of ships but not enough sailors• Conditions on British ships are awful “Floating Hell”• Many British Sailors abandon ship and desert to the
American Navy or to American merchant ships.• British Navy turns to “impressment” to man their ships• British ships start searching American ships for deserters• Americans are enraged
British Impressment of American Sailors
Chesapeake-Leopard Incident• The British Ship Leopard
attempts to board the American Navy Ship Chesapeake looking for alleged deserters
• Chesapeake refuses, and the Leopard fires on the American Ship
• Chesapeake surrenders and the British board her and take four men off her decks
• Americans are outraged, Jefferson orders British Navy ships out of American Waters, and demands that the British renounce Impressement…Britain refuses
• To keep the United States out of the war between France and Britain, Jefferson passes the Embargo Act of 1807 which prohibits American ships from leaving the U.S. for any foreign port.
• He calls the act a “Peaceable Coersion”• This law is hated by the people of the New
England, many of whom rely on foreign shipping, and many of whom are Federalists. They believe Jefferson has acted “Unconstitutionally”
• A depression is caused as a result of the Embargo• Nicknamed the “Ograbme Act”
The Embargo Act
• Replaces the Embargo Act and reopens trade to all nations EXCEPT Britain and France. (America’s largest trading partners…by far)
• This was equally as unpopular and a year later it was repealed and trade with Britain and France was reopened.
• Because of the economic depression in New England, industry takes root to offset the loss in revenue from merchant naval trading
The Non-Intercourse Act
• Native Americans are frustrated over ever dwindling land and trade roads from white expansion Westward past the Mississippi
• Native Americans form alliances between tribes• These alliances threaten white settlements• Native Americans also form alliances with the British,
the French and the Spanish to help support them (with guns, ammunition, and supplies) in their attempt at curbing American expansion West.
• The British make deals with the Indians trading weapons and supplies for their assistance in keeping American’s out of Canada.
Native American Resistance to U.S. Western Expansion and British Involvement
• William Henry Harrison goes to Congress and pushes legislation that allows settlers easier access to land ownership in the Midwest territories. He will soon become Governor of the Indiana Territory.
• Jefferson gave Indians a choice… Assimilate to white culture or move west.
“All men are created equal…”
Tecumseh and the battle of Tippecanoe
Tenskwatwa
• Tenskwatawa—also known as “The Prophet” leads a religious/political revolution among Indians that means to preserve Indian culture by rejecting white culture.
• Tecumseh—The Prophets brother, and chief of the Shawnees, unifies the tribes of the Midwest to stand up to white westward expansion and William Henry Harrison
Tecumseh
Battle of Tippecanoe
• Upon learning that Tecumseh had left camp, Harrison lead a brigade of soldiers to clear out the Indians from Prophetstown, Indiana.
• Indians suffer heavy losses and lose faith in The Prophet who they thought would protect them.
• Many Congressman from both parties wanted war with Britain over control of Canada, and with Spain (Britain’s ally) over control of Florida.
• These people were called “War Hawks”
• Two such men became Speaker of the House of Representatives and Congressman and Chair of the Committee of Foreign Affairs Committee, two positions that had great influence over the course of action the country would take in 1812.
War Hawks
These two men were…
William Henry Clay
These two men were…
John C. Calhoun
Anybody See A Resemblance?