The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson

The Election of 1800

● Jefferson defeats Adams

● Democratic Republicans take power

● 1st peaceful transition of parties

Jefferson’s Inaugural

● 1st President inaugurated in DC

● Outlines his essential principles of a more

limited government

● “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”

Early Accomplishments

● Lets the Alien and Sedition Acts expire

● Cuts all internal taxes

● Uses tariffs and sales of Western land to reduce the National Debt

The Barbary Wars

● Barbary pirates from North Africa attack US ships & demand tributes

● Jefferson sent the USS Constitution & orders a blockade

● The pirates sign a treaty which ends all tribute payments

Marbury Vs. Madison

● Jefferson had James Madison refuse to give a

commission to one of John Adams’ “ midnight judges”

● Issue goes to the Supreme Court

● Establishes the concept of “Judicial Review ”

● The Court may decide if a law is constitutional or not

The Louisiana Purchase

● Owned by France (at war with England)

● New Orleans controls the entire Mississippi River

● Haitian Revolution makes the territory less valuable to France

● Jefferson is not sure if it’s Constitutional

● Uses his treaty-making power

● $15 million to double the size of the US

● Ratified by the Senate in 1803

The Lewis & Clark Expedition

● Lewis & Clark hired to explore & find Northwest Passage

● Sacajawea brought on as guide

● Reach Pacific in Nov. 1805

● Open the way to settlement & claim on Oregon

The Embargo Act of 1807

● France & England’s war traps US in the middle

● US ships and salion harassed by both

● Act blocks trade against both countries

● Only hurts US merchants

Jefferson’s Legacy

● Jefferson’s hand-picked successor James Madison becomes the next President

● Jefferson renews friendship with friend and political rival, John Adams

● Both die on July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence