Essential Question
Why is Thomas Jefferson
such an important figure?
Why You Should Care
Jefferson was not only the author of the
Declaration of Independence but the leading
voice for limiting the power of the
government after the founding of the nation.
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
Thomas
Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence
Jefferson wrote the 1st
draft of the Declaration.
His focus on freedom
over governments would
stick with him.
1776
Washington’s Cabinet
He was Washington’s
Secretary of State. He
found he loved France.
He argued with Hamilton
constantly.
1790 – 1793
Election of 1800
• Adams’s Federalists vs. Jefferson and Burr’s
Republicans
• First time negative campaigning took place.
Federalists said Jefferson was un-Christian.
Republicans said Hamilton was power-hungry.
• Jefferson and Burr receive the same number
of electoral votes, so the election was
decided in the House of Representatives
(Federalist-run)
1800
Election of 1800
• Most Federalists preferred Burr.
•Hamilton felt Jefferson was the lesser of
two evils.
• After numerous tie votes (35!) Hamilton
persuades one Federalist not to vote for
Burr.
• Adams was sad, Burr was furious, Hamilton
was embarrassed and Jefferson was
president.
1800
Part 2:
The
Jefferson
Presidency
Louisiana Purchase
Buy 1 city, get a
GIANT
TERRITORY
free!!!!!!!!!
(Florida’s not included)
• Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans
from France to make sure the port was always open.
• France offered to sell their entire territory (which was
as big as the United States itself!)
• The President didn’t seem to have the Constitutional
authority to do that. Jefferson did it anyway.
What can I say?
I can’t resist a good
deal!
1803
United
States
Spain
Brain
Snack
. . . .
Educated
Guess
Use your
brain to
make your
best guess
on the
following
question.
Jefferson had one of the largest libraries in the US at the
time. He had many books on the West. Those books had
some interesting “facts” posted in them. Write the numbers
of the following that you think were “facts” printed in his
books.
1.
2.
There were woolly mammoths roaming the West.
There was a tribe of blue-eyed Indians living in the West who spoke a form of
English.
3. There was a river or series of connected rivers, starting at the Mississippi, that
crossed the western mountains and reached the Pacific Ocean.
4. The Rocky Mountains weren’t really that big.
5. The West had many erupting volcanoes.
6. Unicorns could be found in the West.
7. There were mountains in the West made of salt.
8. Some beavers in the West were seven feet tall.
9. Buffaloes were friendly and had slim waists.
10. Llamas roamed the West.
Lewis and Clark
• Jefferson sent a group of explorers west to
figure out exactly what he had bought.
• Their main goal was to find a water route to the
Pacific Ocean. (Why? Who cares?)
• They catalogued new plants and animals, met with
natives, and greatly improved maps.
• Their expedition opened the west for further
settlement.
1803 – 1805
1804
1803 – 1805
1803 – 1805
1818
The Embargo
• Britain and France were still
fighting and being jerks.
• The Embargo Act banned trade with all
foreign nations.
• Ended up hurting US merchants way more
than any foreign traders.
1807
Fine, then we don’t want
to play with you any
more, neiner, neiner,
neiner.
Embargo
In the end…
• 30 years, two governing documents and 3
Presidents later the United States is…
• …on the verge of war with Britain again.
• Jefferson decided not to run for a third term.
• His friend, James Madison was elected in
1808.
• Could he keep the new nation out of war?
1808