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== Jefferson Administration ==

== Jefferson Administration ==

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.

 

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 successful slave revolt in [[Haiti]], and he had decided that France should not try to colonize the New World any 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 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).  This enourmous tract of land was as large as 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 this "Louisiana Purchase" an improper exercise of power?'''

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

The Senate approved this "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds required by the Constitution to approve treaties.  Then, in 1804, Jefferson arranged for Meriweather Lewis, who was his secretary, to explore the territory west of Mississippi acquired in this Louisiana Purchase.  Lewis chose William Clark, a soldier, as his assistant and their joint effort became known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806).<ref>Later, in 1809, Lewis was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds and it remains a mystery to this day whether he was murdered; President Clinton refused a request to exhume his body to aid a modern investigation.</ref>  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>

The Senate approved this "Louisiana Purchase" by a vote of 24-7, ratifying it by more than the 2/3rds required by the Constitution to approve treaties.  Then, in 1804, Jefferson arranged for Meriweather Lewis, who was his secretary, to explore the territory west of Mississippi acquired in this Louisiana Purchase.  Lewis chose William Clark, a soldier, as his assistant and their joint effort became known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806).<ref>Later, in 1809, Lewis was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds and it remains a mystery to this day whether he was murdered; President Clinton refused a request to exhume his body to aid a modern investigation.</ref>  This expedition took about two years to complete, as the explorers traveled all the way to the Pacific Ocean and back.

Back to 1804, when Burr ran for Governor of New York, which was one of the biggest and most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton published 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 defend his honor by accepting the challenge and fighting.  Many of our future Presidents were 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 ran for Governor of New York, which was one of the biggest and most powerful states.  By then, Hamilton published 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 defend his honor by accepting the challenge and fighting.  Duels were illegal in America, but occurred anyway.  Many of our future Presidents were 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.  As was customary in duels, they w walked twenty or so paces away from each other and then turned to shoot at each other.  But only one man fired to kill his opponent.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr, feeling that it would be wrong to do so.  But 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.  As was customary in duels, they w walked twenty or so paces away from each other and then turned to shoot at each other.  But only one man fired to kill his opponent.  Hamilton purposely did not try to kill Burr, feeling that it would be wrong to do so.  But Burr shot and killed Hamilton.  Burr then fled, having murdered one of the greatest [[Founding Fathers]] of all.

Meanwhile, Jefferson had his hands full with foreign conflicts.  Pirates were harassing and looting American shipping off the coasts of the Northern African countries of Morocco, Algiers and Tunis, which had a large port city known as "Tripoli" (it is now the capital city of Libya).  When Tripoli demanded more payoffs to stop the pirating, Congress declared war against it in 1805, known as the First Barbary War or the War with Tripoli.  The war was unsuccessful for the United States, ending with a payment of a huge ransom to free the release of 270 sailors captured by the enemy.  It was not until 1815 that brute force ended the harassment by the pirates of American shipping.<ref>http://www.indepthinfo.com/articles/tripoly-war.shtml</ref>  History books, however, tend to give Jefferson preferential treatment and declare this war to have been a victory.  It did inspire the opening lyric in the Marines' hymn, "From the halls of Montezuma, to the ''shores of Tripoli''."<ref>"Montezuma" is a reference to the Mexican War and the Battle of Chapultepec.</ref>

Meanwhile, Jefferson had his hands full with foreign conflicts.  Pirates were harassing and looting American shipping off the coasts of the Northern African countries of Morocco, Algiers and Tunis, which had a large port city known as "Tripoli" (it is now the capital city of Libya).  When Tripoli demanded more payoffs to stop the pirating, Congress declared war against it in 1805, known as the First Barbary War or the War with Tripoli.  The war was unsuccessful for the United States, ending with a payment of a huge ransom to free the release of 270 sailors captured by the enemy.  It was not until 1815 that brute force ended the harassment by the pirates of American shipping.<ref>http://www.indepthinfo.com/articles/tripoly-war.shtml</ref>  History books, however, tend to give Jefferson preferential treatment and declare this war to have been a victory.  It did inspire the opening lyric in the Marines' hymn, "From the halls of Montezuma, to the ''shores of Tripoli''."<ref>"Montezuma" is a reference to the Mexican War and the Battle of Chapultepec.</ref>

There was insult in addition to injury.  In 1807, the "Chesapeake Affair" was a humiliating seizure by the British ship H.M.S. Leopard of an American ship the Chesapeake, in international waters where American shipping should have free travel.  The British forcibly boarded the ship looking for other British sailors on it.

There was insult in addition to injury.  In 1807, the "Chesapeake Affair" was a humiliating seizure by the British ship H.M.S. Leopard of an American ship the Chesapeake, in international waters where American shipping should have free travel.  The British forcibly boarded the ship looking for other British sailors on it.

Jefferson tried to deal with the British Orders in Council by supporting and signing the Embargo Act in 1807.  That law forbade all exports by the United States, which was 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 more than it hurt the European countries.  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 of voluntarily leaving office.  He resigned in 1809.

Jefferson tried to deal with the British Orders in Council by supporting and signing the Embargo Act in 1807.  That law forbade all exports by the United States, and was a misguided attempt to hurt England.  Jefferson also supported and signed the Non-Intercourse 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 more than it hurt the European countries.  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 of voluntarily leaving office.  He resigned in 1809.

Only one additional state joined the United States during Jefferson's presidency:  Ohio, in 1803.  Jefferson himself died on July 4, 1826, a few hours before his political rival John Adams died.  They had become friends years after they fought politically.  Jefferson was deeply in financial ruin when he died, despite having been born to an extremely wealthy family.

Only one additional state joined the United States during Jefferson's presidency:  Ohio, in 1803.  Jefferson himself died on July 4, 1826, a few hours before his political rival John Adams died.  They had become friends years after they fought politically.  Jefferson was deeply in financial ruin when he died, despite having been born to an extremely wealthy family.