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'''Election (peaceful “revolution”) of 1800.'''

'''Election (peaceful “revolution”) of 1800.'''

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer, but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking.

Jefferson learned the art of politics by first serving in the House of Burgesses in Virginia (an early Virginia legislative system similar to what became Congress.)  Jefferson was a brilliant writer, but a terrible speaker.  In fact, he avoided public speaking whenever possible.

Political parties formed because politics is a team sport.  Jefferson ran against the Federalists, and even started a new political party to defeat the Federalists: "Democratic-Republican Party."  Today, both the Democrats and the Republicans can claim roots in Jefferson’s party.

Political parties formed because politics is a team sport.  Jefferson ran against the Federalists, and even started a new political party to defeat the Federalists: "Democratic-Republican Party."  Today, both the Democrats and the Republicans can claim roots in Jefferson’s party.

President Adams was badly beaten in a bitter election called the "[[Revolution of 1800]]."

President Adams was badly beaten in a bitter election called the "[[Revolution of 1800]]," which first peaceful change in power due to election in modern history.  The election of the Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, was a victory for limited government and a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution.

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for President.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve the "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

Jefferson and his running mate, [[Aaron Burr]], won the same number of votes and thus tied for President.  It made sense that everyone who voted for Jefferson would also vote for his running mate, since both were with the same political party, the Democratic-Republicans.  But the inability of the election system to resolve the "tie" reflected a mistake in the Constitution in how Presidents and Vice Presidents were chosen, which had to be fixed by the [[12th Amendment]].  Prior to the 12 Amendment, Congress had to resolve the tie.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew how Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  Some suspect that Jefferson cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than he would have otherwise.

Hamilton had fought Jefferson for over a decade.  But Hamilton knew how Burr was rotten to the core.  So Hamilton persuaded Congress to make Jefferson President.  Some suspect that Jefferson cut a deal with the Federalist Hamilton to act like more like a Federalist as President than he would have otherwise.

In 1803, Jefferson appointed the former anti-Federalist [[James Monroe]] to negotiate terms for the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida from France, and to offer $2 million for this land but to go as high as $10 million if necessary.  But by this time, [[Napoleon]] had suffered a costly failure in connection with a slave revolt in [[Haiti]], and he had decided that France should not try to colonize the New World further.  So France asked Monroe how much he would pay for all of France's territory, which included the vast tract of land northwest of Louisiana (stretching all the way along the Missouri River what what is now Oregon on the Pacific coast).  Monroe was able to negotiate extremely favorable terms of $11.25 million to France for all of the property, which was equal in size to the entire United States at the time.  The overall purchase price was $15 million because Monroe also agreed that the United States would assume nearly $4 million in debts owed by France to American citizens at the time.

In 1803, Jefferson appointed the former anti-Federalist [[James Monroe]] to negotiate terms for the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida from France, and to offer $2 million for this land but to go as high as $10 million if necessary.  But by this time, [[Napoleon]] had suffered a costly failure in connection with a slave revolt in [[Haiti]], and he had decided that France should not try to colonize the New World further.  So France asked Monroe how much he would pay for all of France's territory, which included the vast tract of land northwest of Louisiana (stretching all the way along the Missouri River what what is now Oregon on the Pacific coast).  Monroe was able to negotiate extremely favorable terms of $11.25 million to France for all of the property (which translates to only a few pennies per acre), which was equal in size to the entire United States at the time.  The overall purchase price was $15 million because Monroe also agreed that the United States would assume nearly $4 million in debts owed by France to American citizens at the time.

But the Constitution does not give the President the power to buy new territory.  As a strict constructionist, Jefferson needed to violate his own principles about the Constitution in order to accept this unexpected, but extremely attractive, offer.

But the Constitution does not give the President the power to buy new territory.  As a strict constructionist, Jefferson needed to violate his own principles about the Constitution in order to accept this unexpected, but extremely attractive, offer.

'''Debate:  Was the Louisiana Purchase an improper exercise of power?'''

'''Debate:  Was the Louisiana Purchase an improper exercise of power?'''

The Senate approved the "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds needed to approve treaties.  Much later, in 1828, the Supreme Court held that the power of the federal government to govern new territories implicitly included the power to acquire new territories also.<ref>''American Insurance Co v. Canter'' (1 Peters 511).</ref> In 1812, Louisiana because the first state admitted to the United States from this new territory.

The Senate approved the "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds needed to approve treaties.  Then, in 1804, Jefferson arranged for Lewis and Clark to explore territory west of Mississippi acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.  In 1812, Louisiana because the first state admitted to the United States from this new territory.  Much later, in 1828, the Supreme Court held that the power of the federal government to govern new territories implicitly included the power to acquire new territories also.<ref>''American Insurance Co v. Canter'' (1 Peters 511).</ref>

Back to 1804, when Burr runs for Governor of New York, one of the most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton had a newspaper in New York named the New York Post, which still exists.  Hamilton ran stories to defeat Burr.  After Burr lost, he challenged Hamilton to a duel.  In those days, one man could challenge anyone to a duel to fight to the death, and the other man had to accept the challenge and fight.  Many of our Presidents had been in duels for this reason, including [[Andrew Jackson]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]].  It was considered dishonorable to decline a challenge to a duel, but 50 years later (perhaps after duels had lost their grip on society) [[Stonewall Jackson]] did refuse to duel a student who had a conflict with him at the [[Virginia Military Institute]].

Back to 1804, when Burr runs for Governor of New York, one of the most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton had a newspaper in New York named the New York Post, which still exists.  Hamilton ran stories to defeat Burr.  After Burr lost, he challenged Hamilton to a duel.  In those days, one man could challenge anyone to a duel to fight to the death, and the other man had to accept the challenge and fight.  Many of our Presidents had been in duels for this reason, including [[Andrew Jackson]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]].  It was considered dishonorable to decline a challenge to a duel, but 50 years later (perhaps after duels had lost their grip on society) [[Stonewall Jackson]] did refuse to duel a student who had a conflict with him at the [[Virginia Military Institute]].

In 1804, Hamilton had no real choice but to accept Burr's challenge to a duel, and they met at dawn in Weehawkin, New Jersey, walked twenty or so paces, turned, and only one man fired.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr.  Burr shot and killed Hamilton.  Burr then fled, having murdered one of the greatest [[Founding Fathers]] of all.

In 1804, Hamilton had no real choice but to accept Burr's challenge to a duel, and they met at dawn in Weehawkin, New Jersey, walked twenty or so paces, turned, and only one man fired.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr.  Burr shot and killed Hamilton.  Burr then fled, having murdered one of the greatest [[Founding Fathers]] of all.

There was continued conflict with England.  Jefferson follows Washington’s example and resigns after two terms, or eight years, in 1809.

Meanwhile, Jefferson had his hands full with foreign conflicts.  There was the Tripoli War with the Northern African countries of Morocco, Algiers and Tunis, which had been sponsoring pirates against American ships.  When Tripoli demanded more payoffs to stop the pirating, Congress declared war against it. <explain further>

 

In 1807, bigger troubled happened with England.  The British Orders in Council forbade any trade with France unless the trade first touched English ports.  This burden on American shipping led five years later to the War of 1812, despite the fact that England rescinded the Orders before Congress actually declared war.  (Keep in mind that communications then was not fast like today, and news of England changing its Orders did not reach Congress before it declared war in 1812.) 

 

 

Jefferson tried to deal with the British Orders in Council by supporting and signing the Embargo Act in 1807.  That law forbade all exports in a misguided attempt to hurt England.  Jefferson also supported and signed the Nonintercourse Act, which forbade trade with Britain and France while authorizing President Jefferson to end the boycott once the European countries stopped violating the rights of Americans.  These bans on exports were a huge failure, and hurt the American economy without affecting the European countries much.  By the end of Jefferson's two terms in office (a total of 8 years), he was no longer popular and he  followed Washington’s example and resigned in 1809.

 

In another branch of government, the Supreme Court was expanding its power under Chief Justice [[John Marshall]], a Federalist appointee (by Adams) who served for 35 years.  Virtually every important decision rendered by his Court, starting with ''Marbury v. Madison''.  Marbury v. Madison was a Supreme Court decision by Marshall in 1803, in which the Supreme Court asserted a new power of judicial review to declare an Act of Congress unconstitutional.  There was no "check and balance" on Marshall's expansion in judicial power for decades, until President Andrew Jackson stood up to him and ignored  Marshall’s decision on an Indian issue.

 

 

Madison and War of 1812.  Madison was beyond his depth as a president.  Madison was a thinker, not a commander-in-chief.  England was still the most powerful country in the world, and not someone to pick a fight with.  England stayed in Canada and some “War Hawks” in Congress (particularly Henry Clay) accused it of inciting Indian attacks against us.  England was also harassing our sailors and impressing them.  We were humiliated by England invading D.C. and burning down the Capitol and the White House.  Madison’s wife Dolly had to save the portrait of George Washington when they fled the White House.

Madison and War of 1812.  Madison was beyond his depth as a president.  Madison was a thinker, not a commander-in-chief.  England was still the most powerful country in the world, and not someone to pick a fight with.  England stayed in Canada and some “War Hawks” in Congress (particularly Henry Clay) accused it of inciting Indian attacks against us.  England was also harassing our sailors and impressing them.  We were humiliated by England invading D.C. and burning down the Capitol and the White House.  Madison’s wife Dolly had to save the portrait of George Washington when they fled the White House.