Presidency of Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Jefferson's Presidency, from 1801 to 1810, was the first to start and end in the White House (though at the time it was known as the Presidential Mansion).
[edit] Inauguration and Beliefs
Jefferson's term was marked by his belief in agrarian, state's rights, and limited government. He insisted that his Republican party was the true expression of republicanism.
[edit] Continuation of Federalist policies
Jefferson continued the basic Hamiltonian programs of the national bank and tariffs. The Sedition Act expired on schedule in 1801, and one of the Alien acts was repealed. Those who were imprisoned under the Sedition Act were released. Jefferson attempted to eliminate the national debt because of his feels of small government. If there was no national debt, there wouldn't be any need for taxes. He also decreased the size of the military which would later come back to hurt the U.S. in the War of 1812.
[edit] Patronage, Congress
Jefferson systematically identified and removed federalist office holders. He created the military academy at West Point to train a new cadre of republican officers. His floor leader in the House was John Randolph of Roanoke.
[edit] Judiciary
Jefferson was highly suspicious of the judges appointed by his predecessors; his opinion of good judges was much higher: one of his arguments for a bill of rights would be the power they would give the judiciary.[1] He repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801, abolishing numerous courts. He orchestrated the impeachment of one Federalist judge but the Senate refused to convict a more important target, Justice Chase. Jefferson was frustrated when the Supreme Court handed him a nominal victory in Marbury vs. Madison, while also seizing control of the interpretation of the Constitution.
[edit] Foreign Policy; Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson continued the Jay Treaty, and kept the Federalist minister in London to continue negotiations on debts and boundaries, which were mostly successful.
- Louisiana Purchase (1803)
[edit] Lewis and Clark
He commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition during his first term.
- Creation of the Orleans Territory (1804)
[edit] Reelection
Jefferson was re-elected in the 1804 election.
[edit] Quids
Congressman John Randolph of Roanoke, starting as Jefferson's leader in the House, broke with the president and called for a return to the "principles of '98," and a small weak national government. Randolph was supported by Nathaniel Macon and other Southerners, known as "Old Republicans" (or sometimes called Quids.) They failed to link up with the Federalist minority, and proved an ineffective opposition. [2] Jefferson was easily reelected in 1804. His second term was dominated by foreign policy concerns, as American neutrality was imperiled by war between Britain and France. [3]
[edit] Relations with Europe
- Embargo Act of 1807, an attempt to force respect for U.S. neutrality by ending trade with the belligerents in the Napoleonic War.
[edit] Slavery Trade, Pirates
- Outlawing of the external slave trade (1808)[4]
- First Barbary War (1801-1805)
Throughout his two terms, Jefferson did not once use his power of veto.[5]
[edit] Speeches
[edit] Inaugural Addresses
- First Inaugural Address (4 March 1801)
- Second Inaugural Address (4 March 1805)
[edit] State of the Union Address
Jefferson ended the tradition of deliving a State of the Union speech and instead just had it published. Woodrow Wilson later ended this policy.
- First State of the Union Address (8 December 1801)
- Second State of the Union Address (15 December 1802)
- Third State of the Union Address (17 October 1803)
- Fourth State of the Union Address (8 November 1804)
- Fifth State of the Union Address (3 December 1805)
- Sixth State of the Union Address (2 December 1806)
- Seventh State of the Union Address (27 October 1807)
- Eighth State of the Union Address (8 November 1808)
[edit] Administration and Cabinet
| OFFICE | NAME | TERM |
| President | Thomas Jefferson | 1801–1809 |
| Vice President | Aaron Burr | 1801–1805 |
| George Clinton | 1805–1809 | |
| Secretary of State | James Madison | 1801–1809 |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Samuel Dexter | 1801 |
| Albert Gallatin | 1801–1809 | |
| Secretary of War | Henry Dearborn | 1801–1809 |
| Attorney General | Levi Lincoln | 1801–1804 |
| Robert Smith | 1805 | |
| John Breckinridge | 1805–1806 | |
| Caesar A. Rodney | 1807–1809 | |
| Postmaster General | Joseph Habersham | 1801 |
| Gideon Granger | 1801–1809 | |
| Secretary of the Navy | Benjamin Stoddert | 1801 |
| Robert Smith | 1801–1810 | |
[edit] Supreme Court appointments
Jefferson appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:
- William Johnson – 1804
- Henry Brockholst Livingston – 1807
- Thomas Todd – 1807
[edit] States admitted to the Union
- Ohio – March 1, 1803
[edit] Notes
- ^ Letter to Madison, March 15 1789: "In the arguments in favor of a declaration of rights, you omit one which has great weight with me, the legal check which it puts into the hands of the judiciary. This is a body, which if rendered independent & kept strictly to their own department merits great confidence for their learning & integrity. In fact what degree of confidence would be too much for a body composed of such men as Wythe, Blair & Pendleton?."
- ^ Smelser (1968) ch 3-5
- ^ Smelser (1968) ch 7-8
- ^ Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade in the United States
- ^ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0801767.html
