2. THE ELECTION of 1800
THE “REVOLUTION of 1800”
The candidates were John Adams (last Federalist president) versus Thomas Jefferson
(Dem.-Rep.). The choice seemed clear: Describe the platform contrasts. What were
the handicaps impeding the Federalist effort? Explain the Federalist campaign
strategy.
3. Jefferson defeated Adams by a majority of 73 electoral votes to 65. Jeffersonian joy
was dampened by an expected deadlock with his vice presidential candidate, Aaron Burr.
How was the tie resolved?
Jefferson later claimed that the election of 1800 was a “revolution.” Explain the
significance of this statement.
4. THE FEDERALIST FINALE
John Adams was the last Federalist president of the United States. His party sank
slowly into the mire of political oblivion and ultimately disappeared completely in the
days of Andrew Jackson.
Identify & describe the “strengths” of the Federalist
Party.
By 1800, why were the Federalists “out of place” in
the U.S.?
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9. One of the “midnight judges” of 1801 presented John Marshall with a historic
opportunity. He was William Marbury, whom out-going President Adams had named a
justice of the peace for the District of Columbia.
When Marbury learned that his commission was being shelved by the new secretary of
state, James Madison, he sued for its delivery.
Marbury Marshall Madison
10. Chief Justice Marshall knew that his
Jeffersonian rivals would not enforce a
writ to deliver the commission to his
fellow Federalist, Marbury.
He therefore dismissed Marbury’s suit,
avoiding a direct political showdown.
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12. JEFFERSON, A RELUCTANT WARRIOR
One of Jefferson’s first actions as president was to reduce the military establishment
to a mere police force. He believed that a powerful military threatened republican
ideals. But Jefferson, the non-interventionist, the pacifist, and the critic of a large
military, was forced to fight the Pasha of Tripoli in 1801. These pirates were extorting
and plundering American shipping.
After four years of intermittent fighting, Jefferson succeeded in extorting a treaty of
peace from Tripoli in 1805. The success against the pirates earned America new
respect abroad. But Jefferson’s idea of a naval fleet of “Jeffs” proved woefully
inadequate and a waste of money.
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18. Robert Livingston negotiated a treaty with Paris that culminated with the U.S.
purchasing Louisiana on April 30, 1803, for $15 million.
Robert Livingston
19. Jefferson was startled by the swiftness and magnitude of the deal – he had bought a
wilderness to get a city. Describe the dilemma that the “two” Jeffersons wrestled
with over the purchase.
The Senate, buoyed by public support, promptly approved the transaction (presidential
precedent had been set). Ironically, many Federalists opposed the deal – why?
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21. LOUISIANA in the LONG VIEW
Jefferson’s deal with France was epochal – the U.S. greatly expanded its territory and
it established a precedent for acquiring foreign territory by purchase.
Jefferson’s purchase proved to be a landmark in American foreign policy – avoided war
and entangling alliances.
The Louisiana Territory boosted national unity – a once restive West now toasted
Jefferson.
LA Purchase Ceremony
22. In 1804, Jefferson dispatched his personal secretary, Meriweather Lewis, and William
Clark to explore the northern part of the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition lasted 2 ½
years. Zebulon Pike explored the southern portion.
23. In 1803, the preliminary portion of the expedition included a six-week stay in the frontier
town of Pittsburgh.
24. THE AARON BURR CONSPIRACIES
Relations soured between Burr and Jefferson when Jefferson dropped him from his
cabinet during his second term. Burr joined with a group of Federalist extremists to
plot the secession of New England and New York. Hamilton, though no friend of
Jefferson, exposed and foiled the conspiracy.
25. Incensed, Burr challenged Hamilton to a
duel. Hamilton deplored the practice of
dueling, but he felt his honor was at stake,
so he met Burr’s challenge.
When Hamilton refused to fire, Burr killed
him with one shot. With that shot, Burr
destroyed the Federalist’s one remaining
hope of effective leadership.
26. Burr turned his secession plot to the
trans-Mississippi West.
But Burr’s partner, Gen. James Wilkerson,
betrayed him when he learned that
Jefferson had discovered the plot.
Burr was arrested and tried for treason.
He was acquitted by Chief Justice
Marshall and he fled to Europe.
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30. Why did the Battle of Trafalgar alter America’s neutrality? Britain issued a series
of Orders inCouncil in 1806 – how did these edicts affect the U.S.? How did the
French respond to this Britishaction? And, for a time, America seemed willing to
avoid war in order to make good profits.
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32. Even more galling to American pride than the seizure of ships was the seizure of
American seamen. Impressment – the forcible enlistment of sailors – was a crude form
of conscription that the British had employed for over 400 years. London authorities
set limits on the practice but Americans were targeted – why? From 1808-1811, approx.
6,000 Americans were impressed – how did the British justify American impressment?
Explain how the Chesapeake incident (1807) further enflamed Anglo-American relations.
33. THE HATED EMBARGO
National honor demanded action against the British & French, but America had few options
– why?
The combatants in Europe depended heavily upon the U.S. for raw materials and food –
Jefferson seized on this opportunity. Congress passed the Embargo Act in 1807. It
forbade the export of all goods from the U.S.; it was a compromise between submission
and shooting.
Explain why the embargo was a failure. Did any good come from the embargo?
Congress repealed the embargo and passed the Non-Intercourse Act.Describe how this
would work. Thus, economic coercion would be the foreign policy of the U.S. until 1812.
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35. To Madison’s dismay, Congress dismantled the embargo completely with a bargaining
measure known as Macon’s Bill No. 2 – explain the provisions of this legislation.
How did Napoleon exploit Macon’s Bill No. 2?
Madison knew better than to trust Napoleon, but he accepted his word – why?What was
the British reaction and the American counter reaction? This meant the end of
American neutrality and the final step toward war.
36. TECUMSEH and the PROPHET
The complexion of the Twelfth Congress differed markedly from that of its
predecessor. Recent elections had swept away many of the older “submission men” and
replaced them with young hotheads, many from the South and West. Fiery Henry Clay
was elected speaker of the house.
37. Western “war hawks” were eager to wipe out the Indian threat supported by the British.
The “war hawks” wanted “free trade and sailor’s rights,” as well as free land.
They finally engineered a declaration of war in June, 1812. The West & South supported
the war; the East generally opposed it.
38. Two remarkable Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, known to non-Indians as
the “Prophet,” decided to use force to stem the onrushing pioneer tide. They created a
far-flung confederacy of all tribes east of the Mississippi, inspiring a movement of Indian
unity and cultural renewal.
39. In the fall of 1811, William Henry
Harrison, governor of Indiana
Territory, gathered an army and
attacked Tecumseh’s headquarters at
the junction of the Wabash and
Tippecanoe Rivers.
Harrison won and became a national
hero. Tecumseh would fight with the
British during the War of 1812 and die
in battle in 1813. With him perished
the dream of an Indian confederacy.
40. MR. MADISON’S WAR
By the spring of 1812, Madison believed war with Britain to be inevitable. Why did
America fight Britain rather than France? The French had committed nearly as many
maritime offenses.
41. And despite blatant British violations of American neutrality and British efforts to
persuade Americans not to wage war against Britain, American sailors, in particular, were
prepared to fight for their neutral rights.
42. The War of 1812 ranks as one of America’s worst-fought due to widespread disunity.
America plunged into armed conflict against Britain. There was not any national anger,
seafaring New England merchants damned the war, and Federalists condemned the war.
