Part 3 of My Presidential Review Series
Marching forward with the series, we move on to president number 3, Thomas Jefferson. He was the first president elected under the Democrat-Republican party. He was also the very first Secretary of State, but resigned after numerous clashes with future Federalist Alexander Hamilton. Ironically, it was Hamilton who rallied Federalists to Jefferson in the House when Burr refused to concede the election. He served March 4, 1801 to March 3, 1809.
Jefferson's election is often referred to as the Revolution of 1800, since it marked the fall of Federalism and the rise of the Democrat-Republicans. Many Federalist measures enacted during the 12 years of Federalist-minded presidents were repealed. The Alien and Sedition Acts were allowed to lapse. The residency requirement was reduced back to 5 years. The tax on liquor that sparked the Whiskey Rebellion was repealed. The Judiciary Act of 1802 negated the 'Midnight Appointments' of John Adams.
The pirates of The Barbary States, Morocco, Algiers, Tripoli, and Tunis forced all nations trading through the Mediterranean to pay tribute or they would attack their ships. Jefferson was morally opposed to this, but continued to pay for 1 month of his presidency. In May, however, Tripoli suddenly demanded more money. Jefferson refused, and Tripoli declared war. American forces at first accomplished little. In 1803 Tripoli pirates seized the Philadelphia and turned its guns on the American fleet. In 1804, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur sailed to the Tripoli coast and burned down the Philadelphia. Jefferson promptly sent every available ship to fight the pirates. As the losses began to pile up, the pirates agreed to stop demanding tribute. Jefferson was forced to pay $60,000 in ransom for the hostage Philadelphia crew. America continued to pay tribute to Morocco, Algiers, and Tunis until 1815.
In 1803, America bought the Louisiana Territory for $15 million, or 3 cents an acre. The Louisiana Territory included all or part of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. The negotiators, Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, were only authorized to buy New Orleans, but strapped-for-cash Napoleon offered them the whole territory. Jefferson hastily agreed, lest Napoleon change his mind. The Senate confirmed the purchase, 26-5. It doubled the size of the United States.
One of Jefferson's earliest goals was to explore the territory between Mississippi and the Pacific, and with the territory now under American control, he sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to lead an expedition. After travelling for 2.5 years and 8,000 miles, they published their observations. These observations provided much new information for the scholars of the time.
In March, 1807, Jefferson signed the bill that banned the slave trade, but not slavery itself, after January 1, 1808. People continued to smuggle in slaves, but the numbers were greatly reduced.
Jefferson was subpoenaed to testify at the Burr treason trial and was asked to bring documents bearing on the case. Jefferson did not go and released only the documents he chose to. By doing this, he set the precedent of executive privilege.
Amid the Napoleonic Wars, both France and Britain abused U.S. neutrality at sea, harrassing ships bound for the other's ports. To end these violations, Jefferson enacted the Embargo, in which no American ship could unload at a foreign port and no foreign ship could unload at an American port. He had hoped both Britain and France would be hurt by this and agree to respect American ships. However, both France and Britain held up well, while it proved a disaster for the American economy. Many who worked in careers involved with the sea trade lost their jobs. Although domestic industry flourished without competition, it was not enough to make up for the losses. Shortly before leaving office, Jefferson approved the Non-Intercourse Act to replace the Embargo.
He died on July 4, 1826. It was the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It is rather curious he died then, for he was the writer of the Declaration, and one of the only 2 presidents to sign it (the other was Adams, who also died on this day).
Jeffersonian Republicanism flourished after the election of Jefferson, largely because of his own time as president. Federalists never regained power, and the party was eventually destroyed. Although the Democrat-Republicans were doomed to destruction themselves, Jefferson showed the effectivness of his ideals. The biggest negative effect he had on America was the Embargo, which set the American economy at one of the lowest points of its short history. His handling of the Tripolitan War and purchase of the Louisiana Territory, though, more than make up for it.
Overall Ranking: 5