The Jefferson Presidency

1
The Jefferson Presidency

• The Jeffersonian Vision, The Louisiana Purchase,
  Embargo Act of 1807, Hypocrisy

2
What do we already know?
3
Quotes

• The strongest reason for the people to retain
  the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last
  resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
  government.
• That government is best which governs the least,
  because its people discipline themselves.
• I have recently been examining all the known
  superstitions of the world, and do not find in
  our particular superstition Christianity one
  redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on
  fables and mythology.
• All the world would be Christian if they were
  taught the pure Gospel of Christ!

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The Election of 1800

• Who is the President?
• What is the problem with the Election of 1800?
• Hint Similar to the problem resulting from the
  Election of 1796?
• Resolution
• Hamilton works a deal with the House of
  Representatives to have Jefferson elected
  president 2 weeks before the scheduled
  inauguration.

5
Jeffersonian Vision

• Cultivators are the most virtuous and
  independent
• Jefferson envisioned a land of farmers ? Agrarian
  Republic
• Expanding west would provide farmland
  opportunities
• Individual liberty comes about via subsistence
• Wont need to trade
• If you dont need to trade, you wont fall into
  debt
• If you are in debt, you are dependent on the
  creditor
• You are at their mercy
• If you owe a creditor, you cannot be completely
  free
• Debt leads to corruption

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Jeffersonian Vision

• Slavery
• Slavery is a necessary evil
• Africans are inferior (believed science proved
  this)
• The two racescannot live in the same
  government.
• Slaves sold after his death to pay off his debts
• Affair with Sally Hemmings?
• Government
• Cannot be trusted
• Cut back the size of the federal government
• Return power to the states

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Louisiana Purchase

• Impact
• Doubles size of America
• USA Controls Mississippi River ? increases trade
• Manifest Destiny ? It was Gods will that America
  expand in order to spread the ideals of freedom
  and democracy

• New Empire for Liberty
• Opportunity for a land of farmers speaking the
  same language and sharing the same culture
• Constitutionality Did the president have the
  power to purchase land?
• Buys LA Purchase from Napoleon for 15 million
• Most of the new land goes to slave owners

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Video The Presidents Jefferson

• What precedents 2 of the Washington
  administration did Jefferson do away with?
• What was the Embargo Act of 1807? Why was this a
  grave mistake? Why would Jefferson do this (think
  about his vision)?
• We are all Federalists. We are all
  Republicans.
• Jefferson swore not to be anything like a
  Federalist. One could argue he did the opposite.
  How was his presidency more of a Federalist than
  Republican?

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Hypocrite?

• In your own words explain why the Jefferson
  Presidency was often hypocritical. Gives at
  least 3 specific examples.