AP/IB American History
Mr. Blackmon
Jeffersonian Democracy
I.
II.
Thomas Jefferson: Political Theorist
A.
View of Man
1.
Man is basically selfish
2.
He believed, however, in his unlimited capacity for improvement.
3.
Looks to the "dictates of reason" as a liberating force
4.
Believed democracy a practical necessity.
5.
Government, at best, is a necessary evil because its actions tend to
limit freedom.
6.
He desired a nation of small, yeoman farmers
a.
Feared the growth of cities as a result of commercial growth
because of its adverse effect on the nation's moral fiber.
b.
At some future date, I hope to develop the line of anti-urban
sentiment that runs strongly through U.S. history. Jefferson is an
important figure in that ideology, and the equation of vice with the
city is a key component.
7.
Jefferson is an Anglophobe and a Francophile.
a.
Hamilton, of course, is an Anglophile and a Francophobe.
8.
Jefferson actively joined the opposition to Hamilton over the Bank of the US
and the Whiskey Tax, which tended to milk the farmers for the benefit of
capitalists.
9.
Joins with James Madison to found the Democratic-Republican
Party.
a.
Arranges for Philip Freneau to found the National Gazette
as a propaganda arm.
b.
Hamilton counters with John Fenno and The Gazette of the United
States
10. One result of the clash between Jefferson and Hamilton is that both men
agree that the reluctant Washington must serve a second term.
The Election of 1800
A.
Race was between Adams and Jefferson, with Pinkney and Burr once again the
candidate for the Vice Presidency.
1.
Jefferson was portrayed as threatening to dismantle the Hamiltonian system
2.
Jefferson organize a party structure with
a.
county committees or township committees
b.
state committees
c.
a national caucus.
3.
Jefferson accused the Federalists of monarchical pretensions and of levying
heavy taxes to support a standing army and navy.
B.
Election results: Jefferson and Burr finish with 73, Adams and Pinkney with 65
1.
Since the ballots did not distinguish votes for President from Vice President,
the election is thrown into the House of Representatives, where the
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Jeffersonian Democracy
III.
IV.
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Republicans controlled 8 delegations, the Federalists 6, and two states were
evenly split.
2.
The Federalist caucus voted to support Burr, hoping to win him over.
3.
Burr, despite being in Jefferson's party, openly
maneuvered to be elected President.
4.
The election deadlocks for 1 week and 35 ballots.
5.
Hamilton threw his support behind his bitter enemy Jefferson as the lesser of
two evils. Hamilton understood Burr's character all too well. Hamilton
believed Jefferson the lesser of two evils. Further, "there is no fair reason to
suppose him capable of being corrupted." Burr, however, was driven only by
his lust for power. "If there be a man in the world I ought to hate, it is
Jefferson. With Burr I have always been personally well. but the public good
must be paramount to every private consideration." (MacDonald 352)
6.
Hamilton's vociferous efforts bore fruit. One Federalist delegate bowed to
Hamilton's arguments and switched his vote to Jefferson. Alexander
Hamilton had secured Thomas Jefferson's election as President. It would not
be the last time Jefferson benefited from Hamilton.
C.
Twelfth Amendment passed to prevent such a problem again. Now the ballots must
be distinguished.
The Federalists' Contribution
A.
Positives
1.
Strengthened the federal government
2.
Sound fiscal system
3.
Diversified the economy
4.
Avoided a war with Great Britain over pro-French enthusiasm
B.
Negatives
1.
They did not deal with defeat constructively.
C.
The Election of 1800 was the first transfer of power from one political party
to another. It occurred peacefully. Do not take the peaceful transfer of power
for granted!!!! Over large portions of the globe, this simply does not
automatically happen. Americans have never tried to reverse the verdict of
the ballot box by force (even the Civil War is not an attempt to reverse the
decision; the Southern states did not seek control of the government but
separation from it. This stability is one of the greatest blessings of the
English tradition of respect for the rule of law which we have inherited.
1.
Jefferson believed that a new revolution had occurred.
2.
A revolution had not, in fact, occurred. Continuity prevailed.
Jefferson as President
A.
First Inaugural Address
1.
Assured protection of minority rights
2.
Opposed "entangling alliances"
3.
Promised to pay off the national debt
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Jeffersonian Democracy
4.
5.
V.
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Promised to preserve credit
"Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle . . . . We are all
Republicans, we are all Federalists."
6.
The object of this conciliatory strategy was to weaken the Federalists by
winning over all "reasonable Federalists"
B.
Early Actions
1.
Repealed the Whiskey Tax, as promised
2.
Cut military expenditures to the bone. Jefferson may well be the single most
tight fisted President in US history. Unfortunately, in a climate of turmoil in
Europe, this was not necessarily the best policy. Despite his deep military
cuts, Jefferson will actually commit us to war with the Barbary Pirates. His
foolish policies will take us a long way toward war in 1812, when we go to
war woefully unprepared.
3.
Repealed the Naturalization Act, as promised
4.
It was unnecessary to repeal the Alien Friends Act or Sedition Act, since both
expired upon his inauguration.
5.
Jefferson did not touch the Bank of the United States nor the structure of
public credit.
a.
It is an important precedent that Jefferson does not totally repudiate
the policies of his predecessor.
C.
New tone to government
1.
Jefferson was deliberately informal (in line with his view of Republican
leadership)
2.
He fired Federalist officials who were incompetent or too partisan and
replaced them with Republicans, ie effective use of patronize to reward his
supporters.
3.
Avoided excessive acts but cleverly strengthened his party.
4.
Continued the cabinet system and stressed points of agreement, not
disagreement. Unlike Washington, he did not invite divergent opinions
within his cabinet.
Jefferson's Attack on the Judiciary
A.
One of the reasons I cannot share the almost uncritical admiration of Jefferson with
which many historians hold him is his systematic attack on the judiciary. Had he
been successful, the very nature of our government would have been altered--the
checks and balances disrupted. Jefferson was always suspicious of lawyers and
judges, and the fact that the existing judiciary was exclusively Federalist, did not
assuage those suspicions.
B.
The Midnight Judges
1.
After the election, the lame duck Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801,
which created 6 new circuit courts and 16 new judges. In addition, various
new justices of the peace were created.
2.
All of these positions were filled by Adams before he left office. Allegedly,
he signed commissions right up to midnight on March 2, at which time his
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Jeffersonian Democracy
authority ended.
John Adams also appointed John Marshall, his Secretary of State, to Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court. This is in fact the most important service
Adams did his country while President.
4.
The Judiciary Act was poorly written, and did not come into effect
immediately. The new, Republican Congress repealed the act as an economy
measure before the judges actually took office. In order to forestall an appeal
to the Supreme Court, Congress abolished the next judicial term.
5.
The repeal is political hard-ball, but legitimate.
Attempts at Impeachment of Judges
1.
Jefferson tries to remove judges who were especially obnoxious to him.
2.
The first target was District Judge John Pickering, a violent Federalist
partisan.
a.
He was clearly insane.
3.
The second target was Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase. Chase hated
Jefferson virulently and made no secret of it. He was a nasty character, but
he was clearly not guilty of "high crimes and other misdemeanors," which are
the only legitimate basis for an impeachment. Chase is being impeached
purely for his political views
a.
Jefferson fails to secure the impeachment,
which is a little known but very important
precedent for our nation.
Marbury v. Madison 1803
1.
This case is the single most important Supreme Court case in our history.
2.
Marbury should have been granted his commission as a Justice of the Peace.
He did not receive it.
3.
He petitioned Madison, the new Secretary of State, for his commission.
Madison insisted he did not have it. Marbury did not believe him. Partisan
passions were aroused, and Madison was deliberately obstructive in every
way possible.
a.
In fact, with 20/20 hindsight, there is no evidence that Madison was
deliberately withholding the commission. In all likelihood the fault
lay with John Marshall, who as Secretary of State, had sealed the
commission. It was probably lost in the confusion of a change of
administrations.
4.
Encouraged by Marshall, Marbury petitioned for a write of mandamus,
which would require the commission to be produced.
a.
By today's ethical standards, Marshall should have recused himself
since he was directly involved in the case.
5.
The hearing proved that the commissions had been signed and sealed, but did
not prove whether they had been delivered, whether Madison had them or
even seen them. After that point, the administration boycotted the
proceedings.
3.
C.
D.
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6.
VI.
VII.
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Marshall was actually in a quandary now.
a.
If he issued the writ, Jefferson would certainly defy him. Given his
public popularity, there was no way to force Jefferson to comply.
There was a very good chance that Marshall would be impeached.
This could destroy the power of the judiciary to act independently.
b.
If he backs down, then the Court's prestige falls still further. The
judiciary would be helpless before a determined administration.
7.
Marshall's solution was brilliant. He sharply condemned the actions of the
administration, but then wrote that the Court could not issue a writ because
the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 upon which Marbury's case depended
was unconstitutional.
a.
Modern commentators regard the exact reasoning which Marshall
used as weak. That was not the point here.
8.
John Marshall establishes the principle of Judicial Review of federal laws
when he overturned the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789
9.
There was nothing that Jefferson could do about it, since Marshall had, in
effect, refused to take positive action. Jefferson was furious but helpless.
The Barbary Pirates
A.
Ports
1.
Tunis
2.
Morocco
3.
Tripoli
4.
Algiers
B.
Piracy or bribery
1.
The US paid extortion until 1801
2.
We then went to war with Tripoli
C.
Effects of the war
1.
Ended the extortion in 1815
2.
Received better treaty terms in 1805
3.
Loss of the frigate USS Philadelphia
4.
Stephen Decatur becomes a national hero
5.
The US Navy received badly needed experience.
The Louisiana Purchase
A.
This is Jefferson's greatest achievement while President. This proves that it is better
to be lucky than good. He received the credit, but he doesn't really deserve it.
B.
The West was in turmoil by
1.
Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800 between Spain and France which retroceded
Louisiana to France.
2.
Spain then rescinds the right of deposit
C.
Jefferson rightly feared Bonaparte's aggressive designs.
1.
To say that Napoleon Bonaparte was a bit aggressive is like saying that Dan
Marino can throw the football.
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Jeffersonian Democracy
2.
D.
E.
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In point of fact, Napoleon's chief interests were in Europe. He did have
dreams of an expanded empire in the New World. Had things turned out
differently, we might have had a very serious problem.
3.
Jefferson is so alarmed that he compromised his general beliefs: "there is on
the globe one spot, the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy.
It is New Orleans . . . The day that France takes possession of New Orleans
. . . [we will be forced to] marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation."
Letter to Robert Livingston
a.
Contradictorily, however, Jefferson simultaneously reversed Adams'
friendly attitude toward Toussaint L'Ouverture and Haiti. In his
eagerness to have good relations with France, he actually encouraged
Napoleon to re-assert French imperial control over Haiti. As we shall
see, that is the worst possible policy he could have followed.
Napoleon's failure to re-assert French authority is the decisive factor
in the sale of Louisiana to the US.
The Mission to France
1.
Urged Robert Livingston to purchase New Orleans and West Florida for
$2,000,000.
2.
Upon hearing that Napoleon had dispatched a corps (20,000 men) under his
brother in law, Gen. Leclerc, to reconquer Haiti, he sent James Monroe
with an increased offer of $10,000,000 for New
Orleans.
Napoleon Decides to Sell Louisiana
1.
The Haitian reconquest turned into a disaster.
a.
The insurrection, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, could not be
suppressed, even with Toussaint's capture. The Haitian people
refused to be re-enslaved.
b.
Yellow fever killed off much of the French army between in 1803,
including an additional corps sent as reenforcement.
2.
The Peace of Amiens of 1802 provided the diplomatic pre-condition for a
reconquest of Haiti and New World adventures.
a.
Napoleon had already determined on a resumption of European war.
b.
The resumption of war would face Napoleon with a serious need for
money.
c.
The resumption of war would also mean the loss of communications
with Haiti as a result of the Royal Navy.
d.
Furthermore, the British could, if they chose, seize Louisiana from the
French at will.
e.
In short, Napoleon would face the loss of Louisiana no matter what.
3.
Advantages to Napoleon
a.
He needs the cash
b.
He denies the Louisiana Territory to the British
c.
He eases tensions with the US, which reduces the chances of a
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rapprochement between the US and Great Britain.
Please note the crucial conditions for the sale:
a.
Napoleon's loss of Haiti, his chief naval base in the Caribbean.
Without Haiti, he has no chance of defending Louisiana. Credit for
this goes to the Haitian people and yellow fever.
b.
Napoleon's determination on European war. Blame for this goes to
Napoleon.
c.
The control of the sea by the Royal Navy. Credit for this goes to the
Royal Navy.
d.
Jefferson has nothing to do with any of this. He just happens to be
president.
Talleyrand, Livingston, and Monroe
1.
Talleyrand asks the price for all of Louisiana on 4/10/03
2.
Livingston and Monroe choose to exceed their authority and offer
$15,000,000 for Louisiana, however big it might be (its borders were not
defined clearly).
Objections (!!!) to the Treaty
1.
Jefferson believed the sale was unconstitutional
a.
The Constitution did not specifically grant the power to add new
territory (he is a strict constructionist)
b.
The Constitution did not specifically grant the power to make citizens
of 50,000 inhabitants.
c.
He suggests an amendment
d.
He dropped that suggestion when it was pointed out to him that, by
the time an amendment could be passed, Bonaparte might change his
mind.
2.
Federalists and Republicans reverse positions on construction.
a.
Federalists complain that the Constitution did not specifically
authorize the sale and that it was a colossal waste of money (!!!!!)
(1)
The real issue was the growth of Western states, which could
be expected to be Republican
b.
The Republicans argue that the power to make treaties implied the
power to buy land.
3.
The treaty is ratified.
a.
It ties the West even closer to the Republicans
b.
Most Federalists swung over to support it because it was so obviously
beneficial to the country.
4.
The last irony is that the purchase was made in bonds that napoleon could
negotiate to Dutch bankers for gold due to the high credit rating which the
US enjoyed. In other words, Hamilton's financial policies made the
purchase possible. Had Jefferson won that battle over funding the debt
and the Bank, then we could not have actually bought Louisiana even if
4.
F.
G.
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VIII.
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Napoleon were willing to sell it. Again, Jefferson has little to do with it.
Lewis and Clark Expedition
A.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark sent in 1803.
1.
Partly scientific
2.
Partly diplomatic, to establish relations with the Indians.
B.
Left St. Louis in 1804
C.
Reached Oregon in 1805 with Sacagawea and her husband as guides.
D.
Returned in 1806.
1.
Brought back a large amount of botanical and geographical information.
2.
Strengthened our claim to Oregon.
E.
Zebulon Pike in 1805 and 1807 explored Colorado, upper Mississippi, Santa Fe and
the Rio Grande (remember, the borders were undefined)
Jeffersonian Democracy at the end of the first term
A.
Bridge between Washington and Jackson
B.
Demonstrated that a democrat could establish a stable regime (contrasted with the
slaughter in France with the Jacobins)
C.
Proved to be moderate in his first term
1.
Accepted the role of manufacturing and commerce
2.
Accepted the principle of government protection of business when necessary
3.
Accepted the idea of national improvements (roads, canals, etc.)
D.
Undermined the Federalists by exploding their fears.