Jefferson and the Beginning of the War of
1812Chapter 11.1
AP US
Election of 1800
Adams v. Jefferson◦ Adams was having problems as President
No war with France, but debt!◦ Had to raise a stamp tax
◦ Jefferson was suffering from Federalist attacks
First “whispering” campaign◦ TJ had children with his slaves◦ Fed’s claimed TJ was “Anti-church” though he
wasn’t
“Revolution” of 1800
Jefferson won 73 to 65 Weird deadlock – Jefferson had run with
Aaron Burr as his VP running mate (not really done at the time) and both TJ and Burr tied for presidential votes…
◦ Under this situation, the decision passes to the House
◦ Eventually the Federalists in the House calmed down and TJ was named President
◦ running mate problem solved with 12th Amendment
Revolution of 1800
Really a “revolution” because there was an easy transition from one party to the next◦Previously unheard of
in such a young nation◦Proved democratic
experiment was working
◦Pointed the way towards the 2-party system in America
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr
End of the Federalists
◦ John Adams was the last Federalist President (since Hamilton gets shot)
◦ The Federalists had been a conservative break for America after the Revolution
Responsibility Breeds Moderation in TJ
There was a disparity between Jefferson’s beliefs and what he had to do as President
◦ Still rustic and Republican Wore casual clothes “Rustic” capital of Washington D.C.
◦ Conciliatory towards the federalists
Did not kick Federalists out of jobs to give the “spoils” (the political word is “patronage”) to other Republican Democrats
Jefferson an able politician◦ Had to be with his disjointed party
Jeffersonian Restraint Helps to Further the Revolution of 1800
Wanted to open up freedom of speech◦ Sedition act had expired◦ New naturalization law of 1802 returned the
immigration requirements to 5 years Got rid of excise tax – only attack on
Hamiltonian system◦ Cost government $1million a year
Albert Gallatin was Secretary of Treasury
◦ Talented and reduced national debt
Judiciary Branch Issues
Judiciary Act of 1801 was a lame duck law passed by the Federalist Congress
◦ Created 16 new federal judicial positions that would be filled with Federalists
Adams had also appointed John Marshall to Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1801
◦ Marshall was a devout Federalist
◦ And TJ’s cousin…
Judiciary Branch Issues
William Marbury (one of the midnight judges of the Judiciary Act of 1801) was going to have his commission shelved by Jefferson
◦ So he sued the government (technically sued Sec of State James Madison)
◦ Marshall threw out the case, but in explaining his ruling in Marbury v. Madison, Marshall said that the part of the Judiciary Act that gave Marbury a job was unconstitutional
Marbury v Madison changes America
Marbury v. Madison set precedence for the Supreme Court to rule on the Constitutionality of laws
◦ TJ (in Kentucky Resolutions – 1798) had said states could decide with nullification
◦ Marshall ends up being right in the long run◦ THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
Other Judiciary Problems
House tries to impeach a talkative and partisan Supreme Court justice (Samuel Chase)
◦ House impeaches and Senate doesn’t vote to convict
◦ Sets precedence for not using impeaching as a political weapon
Case against Chase was flimsy
Jefferson Turns Warrior – Tripoli
Pacifist Jefferson reduced the army to 2500 officers and men
◦ Left navies alone because they couldn’t invade
Barbary States’ Pirates were still harassing American shipping in the Mediterranean
◦ Washington and Adams had to pay them off
Jefferson Turns Warrior – Tripoli
In 1801 the pasha of Tripoli was upset with his share of the American protection money and declared war on America
◦ Navy was dispatched to fight “Shores of Tripoli…”
◦ After 4 years of intermittent fighting – a peace treaty
Jefferson Turns Warrior – Tripoli
Small gunboats had been useful in the Tripolitan War
◦ Jefferson ordered 200 of these for the American navy
Called “Jeffs” or “mosquito fleet”◦ Turned out useless in war of 1812
Louisiana
In 1800, Napoleon had secretly gotten Spain to sign over the trans-Mississippi region of Louisiana (including New Orleans)
◦ Problem for America because Napoleon was a crazy tyrant and the US would probably have to fight France to get them out of America
Would mean allying with England – yuck◦ TJ sent James Monroe to Paris in 1803 to try and
buy New Orleans and as much land to the east as was possible for no more than $10 million
Monroe was to meet Livingston who was already there
Louisiana
While Monroe was en route, Livingston was approached with an offer of sale of the trans-Mississippi region
◦ Napoleon lost an attempt to reclaim Santo Domingo which was to be the selling place for food grown in Louisiana
Toussaint L’Ouverture◦ Napoleon was about to begin attacking
Europe again and did not want to lose America to England (because England controlled the seas)
Louisiana On April 30, 1803 a
treaty was signed to purchase all of Louisiana for $15 million
Jefferson was shocked
◦ Had only authorized $10 mill
◦ Thought that such a large addition was unconstitutional
◦ Purchase was so popular that it had to go through
Exploration of Louisiana
Set precedent for expanding the US through purchase
Jefferson wanted the new area explored
◦ Sent a team in the Spring of 1804 to explore
His own personal secretary – Meriwether Lewis
Young army officer – William Clark
Guided by a Shoshoni woman named Sacajawea
Exploration of Louisiana◦Additional purpose
was to befriend tribes on the way with gifts for each chief
◦Demonstrated cross-land passage to Pacific – led to westward expansion
◦Also Boosted National Unity
Lewis and Clark’s Route
Outbound in Red, Inbound in Blue
Mid Chapter Break!
Federalists go Down…
Sectionalist Federalists sank lower in public esteem even amongst themselves
◦ Extreme members, like Aaron Burr, were hatching a plot for the secession of New England and New York
◦ Hamilton found out and said bad things about Burr
Federalists go Down…Duel
◦Hamilton shot – 1804◦Burr runs away to the west in 1806 – tries to
plan secession there and fails miserably
Election of 1804
Greatest margin ever with 2 major party candidates
Heading towards War
America as Neutral
Problems in Europe◦ Napoleon starts fighting with England again
(intentionally) America enjoys trading with both until 1805
◦ England controls the seas after the Battle of Trafalgar
◦ France controls the continent after the Battle of Austerlitz
Problems with England
Orders of Council – 1806◦ Closed the ports under French continental
control to foreign shipping unless the vessel stopped at a British port first
French reaction: seizure of all merchant ships that entered British ports
Impressment of Sailors◦ 6000 men between 1808-1811
Problems with England
Chesapeake / Leopard Affair of 1807◦ British frigate Leopard overhauled the US
frigate Chesapeake 10 miles off of Virginia◦ Demanded the surrender of 4 alleged deserters◦ Problem was London had never claimed the
right to impress from a foreign warship (just a merchant ship)
American commander refused and fought, but lost – 3 Americans killed and 18 wounded
◦ 4 “deserters” were dragged away London foreign office apologized Americans were VERY angry
Problems with England
Jefferson’s Response:◦Forbade British ships to dock in American ports.
◦Ordered state governors to call up as many as 100,000 militiamen.
France’s Continental System
Since Napoleon controlled most of Europe, he forbid all European countries from trading with England
The Embargo Act of 1807
America couldn’t submit, but Jefferson didn’t want war and we had a poor navy and army
Instead America tried economic fighting◦ Europe (both sides) depended on America
for raw materials and food Embargo Act passed in 1807
◦ Forbid the export of ALL GOODS from American in either American or foreign ships
How is America doing with the embargo?
Terrible Shipping
industry in NE ground to a halt
People were unemployed
Farmers in the South and West had mountains of cotton, grain, and tobacco and no one to sell it to!
1807 exports $108 mil.1808 exports $22 mil.
How is America doing with the embargo?
People began to make fun of Jeff and the embargo
New England talked of secession Why didn’t embargo work?
◦ Too short◦ Too much smuggling◦ Latin America shipping to England and
France◦ Good crops in England during these years
Non-Intercourse Act of 1809
Finally Congress had to change things◦Non-Intercourse Act of 1809 (3 days before
Jefferson’s retirement) Reopened trade with all nations except for
England and France
Effects of the Embargo
Embargo much more costly than war◦ Could have built a navy with that money…
didn’t Revived Federalist party – a little IRONY: Actually benefited New England
since they turned to reenergizing their factories and industry
◦ Foundations of America’s industry were laid by Jefferson who hated industry…
Great suffering in England◦ Parliament repealed the Orders of Council 2
days before Congress declared war in 1812◦ If only there were telephones…
Presidential Election of 1808
James Madison
Your book thinks he was a bad president
Couldn’t handle the factions within his party
Wife, Dolly Madison, is credited with creating the role of “First Lady”
Macon’s Bill Number 2
Created to replace the expiring Non-Intercourse Acts
Permitted America to trade with the world America would trade with either England or
France - whichever repealed its commercial restrictions first AND not trade with the other
This was made for Napoleon who jumped on it
◦ Madison aligning with France meant he was aligning AGAINST England
War Hawks in Congress
“Free Trade and Sailors’ Rights” and Free Land
Mainly western settlers
Younger generation that were excited about a Patriotic fight
Clay and Calhoun
Problems on the FrontierNative Americans were
upset about white settlement in Kentucky – a buffer state and game preserve for the North and South tribes.
Native Americans began to unite under Tecumseh and the Prophet – two Shawnee brothers
The
Prophet
Tecumseh
Problems with the British and Indians
War Hawks in Congress were convinced that the British were helping the Native American movement led by Tecumseh
British General Brock meets with Tecumseh
Fighting the Indians
General William Henry Harrison was sent to fight the Indians at Tecumseh’s headquarters of Tippecanoe on November 7, 1811
Tecumseh continued to fight with the British against the Americans and was killed at the Battle of the Thames in 1813◦This was the last hope of an Indian Confederacy
Andrew Jackson crushed the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on March 27, 1814
Just Keep Fighting…
Many War Hawks in Congress felt that the only way to crush the Indians permanently was to defeat their allies in Canada
“On to Canada, On to Canada”◦Drill baby drill…
A War Declaration was issued in June of 1812 and passed with a close vote◦Most supporters came from landlocked
southwest and west
Mr. Madison’s War
Federalists and New Englanders bitterly opposed the war◦Were still profiting off of trade◦Hated Napoleon
Lent money to England and sent food and supplies to British troops in Canada
Much national disunity at this time…