Chapter 8 JEFFERSONIANISM AND THE ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS
Dec 15, 2015
Chapter 8
JEFFERSONIANISM AND THE ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS
Age of JeffersonElected 1800
Mixed opinion Recognized need for smooth transition from Federalist to Republican government Stressed importance of acceptance of basic principles of constitutional government
Worries Racial tensions
Race war, Colonization of Africa Threats to American liberty
High taxes, standing armies, and public corruption States needed more power, more responsive to the people
Virtue Most virtuous = farmers Least virtuous= merchants/factory owners
Jefferson’s RevolutionWanted to restore
liberty and tranquilityRepublican Ideals
Limits central government
Erases national debt by convincing Congress to repeal taxes, close foreign embassies, and reduce standing army
Also eliminated federal jobs and repeals Whiskey excise tax
Balances Federalist IdealsMaintains National
bankContinues Hamilton’s
debt repayment planContinues foreign
neutrality of Washington and Adams
Jefferson and the JudiciaryJudiciary Act of 1801
From 6 to 5 Supreme Court Justices
16 new federal judgeships Adams’ fills with
Federalists 1802 Congressional repeal
Midnight judges Adams appoints Justice of
the Peace and Judges before leaving office
Madison does not deliver commissions
Marbury v. Madison 1803 Marbury sues John Marshall
Madison should have signed BUT
Under no legal obligation the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional
DOCTRINE OF JUDICAL REVIEW Supreme Court has power
over other two branchesImpeachment
John Pickering, Samuel Chase
Jefferson wanted judiciary more responsive to will of the people
Outrageous behavior impeached
Louisiana Purchase 1803Threats
Spain cedes territory to France
Threatens Jefferson’s vision of an Empire of Liberty
1802 Spanish revoke Pinckney Treaty
Sends Monroe and Robert Livingston to negotiate
Napoleon Failure in Santo Domingo Refocuses on war in Europe Offers entire LA territory for
$15 million
Problem Nothing in constitution Jefferson puts aside ideals and
claims it as an application of executive power to make treaties
Consequences Doubles size of US Removes foreign presence Guarantees expansion of
frontier Strengthens Jefferson’s hopes
of future based on agricultureLewis and Clark 1804
Expedition to LA territory Toussaint Charbonneau,
Sacajawea Reach Pacific Ocean 1805 Invaluable scientific, cultural,
and geographic information
The Gathering Storm Election of 1804
Overwhelming wins Federalist dispirited
Aaron Burr Yanked from VP Joins “High” (Extreme)
Federalists Plans secession of NE Wanted to be Gov. of NY
Hamilton Duel Challenges Hamilton at
Weehawken 1804 Kills Hamilton
New Scheme James Wilkerson Mexico and LA territory Put on Trial Presided over by John
Marshall Not guilty for Treason
Quids Led by John Randolph Country ideology Believed Jefferson had
compromised too much in office
Yazoo Scandal 1795 Georgia sold Yazoo tract
of land to land companies at fraction of value
Legislature was bribed Next legislature cancelled
sale Moral Challenge for Jefferson Solution: 1803 Federal
Commission awarded 5 million acres (of original 35 million acres) to Yazoo Investors
Suppression of American Trade and Impressment
Americans prospered off of war b/w Britain and France
Rule of 1756 Broken Voyage
Repackaging in US ports 1805 British declared
illegalOrders of Council
British order blockade of French ports
French respond with seizure of British ships
Cancelled out US tradeBritish Impressment
Humiliating Impressed ex- Royal Navy
Embargo act of 1807 Jefferson’s answer to the
Chesapeake- Leopard affair Most controversial
legislation of Jefferson’s Prohibited sailing to foreign
ports Supposed to only limit
exports “peaceable coercion”
Consequences Hurts Americans more than
British or French Hard on farmers, seaman,
merchants Hardest on NE, Mass Positive: merchants focused
on manufacturing instead
Writing WorkshopThomas Jefferson’s first term as President
was so successful that he overwhelmingly won re-election in 1804. His second term, in contrast, was marked by frustration and failure. Discuss the achievements of Jefferson’s first term and the problems that beset his second.
James Madison 1808
Madison/ George Clinton= Republican
Pinckney/King= Federalist Federalists have modest
comeback in CongressMadison
Believes liberty rests on virtue of people (farmers)
Agricultural prosperity dependent on trade
Congress repeals Embargo Act of 1807 with Non-Intercourse Act 1809 Opens trading Except Britain/France
Economic Recession 1808, 1810 Leads to election of War
hawksMacon’s Bill No. 2
Restored trade with Britain or France if they recognized US neutrality and not trade with enemy
Napoleon's deception
On the Verge of WarProblems
Warhawks called for British explusion from Canada and Spanish from FlordiaWarhawks elected to
Congress election of 1810Pro- WarHenry Clay, John Calhoun
1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne Indiana Territory Gov.
William Henry HarrisonAttracts settlers with landOutrages tribes
Tecumseh and the ProphetShawnee chief and
brotherUnites tribes against
whitesMeets with HarrisonHarrison attacks
Shawnee town at Tippecanoe River
ConsequencesHarrison becomes a
heroDiscredits the prophetPersuades Tecumseh to
side with British
Congress votes for warReasons
Violation of US neutrality rights
Troubles with British on western frontier
Unpopular war “Mr. Madison’s War” People not for it Against
Southern Federalists Quids NY, NJ, New England
(merchants *) For
Northern Federalists Southern / Western
Farmers Republicans in PA, MD, VA
Justified by British impressments British violations of
neutral rights British incitement of
Indians Economic recession
caused by British policy and actions
War of 1812Problems
Lacked strong navyLargest British forceThought Canada would
not be a challengeFocus on Canada
Main attackMajor losses
1812- surrendered Detroit to British
1812- lose Battle of Queenstown
1812- militia fail to attack Montreal
Success finally!Gen. William Henry
Harrison retakes Detroit defeats British at Battle of Thames
Gen. Perry Destroys British squadron
at Put-n-Bay, Lake Erie
British offensiveNapoleonic wars overConcentrate mainly in
north at Lake Champlain Strategy to split NE and
south unsucessful
End of the WarBritish attack
ChesapeakeOriginally to district from
Lake ChamplainMost successfulBurn Washington, D.C.Attack Baltimore
unsuccessfulSouthern Campaign
US Gen. Andrew JacksonAlabama, Mississippi,
LouisianaFights Indians/ BritishBattle of New Orleans
2 weeks after Treaty Most dramatic battle
Treaty of Ghent 1814US delegation
Henry Clay Albert Gallatin John Quincy Adams
Signed Christmas EveRestores status quo
ante bellum (status before war)
Says nothing about grievances before war
Meanwhile… Hartford Convention
Federalist meet 1814NE states close to
secessionPass resolutions
summarizing grievances Abolish 3/5th compromise 2/3 vote to declare war
and admit new states 1 term president Only 2 consecutive
presidents from same state No more embargos over
60 days
ProblemTiming disasterousTreaty of Ghent and
Jackson’s victory dash hopes of public support
Election of 1816 swept by James Monroe Handpicked by Madison 4th VA president
Federalists all but finished
War’s Legacy United States gains
respect from other nations
US accepts Canada as neighbor and part of British empire
Federalist party comes to an end
Talk of nullification and secession would set a precedent later used in the South
Native Americans abandoned by British, give up huge amounts of land
US factories built during British blockade, America heading towards industrialism and self-sufficiency
Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison become war heroes and future presidents
Strong feelings of nationalism
American future lies in West, way from Europe
Awakening of American Nationalism
New Symbols White House Star-spangled banner
Madison’s Nationalism Political consequences of
War Eliminated Federalists Convinced Republicans
nation was strong embraced Federalist
policies Message of Congress 1815
Federal support for internal improvements
Tariff protection for new industries from Embargo
New National Bank
Henry Clay “American System”
Protective tariff National bank Internal improvements
Tariff of 1816 1st protective tariff Protected US
manufacturers from influx of British goods
Monroe’s Era of Good Feelings Supported by new
generation, new nationalism Take on Federalist ideas Avoided political
controversies “paper thin”
John Marshall and Supreme Court 1818
Dartmouth College v. Woodward NH couldn’t turn college
into public university Contract for a private
corporation couldn’t be altered by a state
McCulloch v. Maryland Issue whether MD had the
right to tax a branch of the US bank
Ruling: Loose interpretation
allowed for creation of bank Implied power
State could not tax an agency of the federal government
Consequences Republicans mad
Attack on state sovereignty Against Republican belief
that the union was a compact among states
Stripped states of power to impose will of people over corporations
Panic of 1819 Bank tightens loans Value of money fell Severe economic
depression Worst in the west Shook nationalists beliefs
changed voter outlook Called for land reform Opposition to National
Bank
Missouri Compromise 1820-1821
Controversy over statehood
1819 11 free states, 11 slave Would upset balance of
powerImportant because
Would set precedent for slave states in northern part of LA territory
Would bring up every issue that would be important for next 40 years
Tallmadge Agreement Prohibited further
introduction of slaves to MI Children of slaves freed at
25
Threat of Secession leads to compromise Preserve balance of
slave/free states Maine admitted as free state
Slavery prohibited north of 36 degrees 30
Missouri tries to block free blacks which leads to second compromise:
Henry Clay Missouri could not
discriminate against citizens of another state
Doesn’t define who a citizen is
Reinforces Ordinance of 1787 that Congress has right to prohibit slavery in territories
Election of James MonroeOverwhelmingly wins
popular voteVoting base comes from
younger generationIts said that he was a
man of “the highest integrity” according to Thomas Jefferson and couldn’t hold a grudge
Optimistic patriotic themes
Federalists begin to fade
Political Changes
Republican Federalist
Old Republicans
-Limited Government-Strict interpretation-States rights
New Republicans
-National Bank-Protective Tariffs- Internal Improvements
Foreign Policy under Monroe 1816-1824
Reflected consensus more than conflict
Secretary of state John Quincy Adams excellent diplomat
Strengthened peace with Britain
Treaties Rush-Bagot Treaty 1817
Demilitarizes Great Lakes British American Convention
1818 Restores fishing rights to
US Fixes boundary between US
and Canada to Rockies Oregon “Free and Open”
SpainUS seizes West Florida
1812Gen. Andrew Jackson
invades East FloridaBurns Seminole villagesSpanish scared
Adams-Onis Treaty (Transcontinental) 1819US gets all of Florida
and Oregon TerritoryGave up TexasNew border in west
Monroe Doctrine 1823
Americans requiring reputation for being aggressive
Written by AdamsSupposed to be a joint
statement with Britain
Main points Unless US interests
involved, US is staying out of European Wars
American continents were not subject for future colonization by any European power
Any attempt against would be construed as “unfriendly”
Excluded Would support revolutionary
movements in Europe Use doctrine to claim
preeminent position in New World