I. Jeffersonian Democracy

A. Until masses could be educated, political rule needed to be entrusted to agrarian aristocracy.

B. Jefferson's election in 1800 shifted regional power to South and West from mercantile aristocracy of Northeast

C. Jefferson's views:

1) Faith in the perfectability of man

2) Insistence on strong local governments

3) Each generation should remake its laws to stimulate democracy

A. Midnight judges & judicial review


1. Marbury and 15 other Federalist judges were appointed as Adams' term expired.

2. John Marshall rejected their claim, contending that the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional.

a) Victory for DRs--Federalists ousted

b) Victory for Federalists--greatly expanded power of Supreme Court by establishing precedent of court ruling laws unconstitutional.

B. Burr Conspiracy


1. Federalists seek his election as New York governor to attempt secession from Union. Hamilton opposes plan.

2. Aaron Burr kills Hamilton in duel

3. Burr moves west to avoid prosecution and conspires with Wilkinson, the military governor of Louisiana, to establish a  western nation with British help

4. Wilkinson betrayed Burr and arrested him for treason. A jury found Burr not guilty, but sectional tensions persisted.

A. Louisiana Purchase


1. France acquires Louisiana from Spain in 1801 and restricts American access to New Orleans

2. Jefferson sent agents in Paris to purchase New Orleans.

3. Short on cash and faltering in an invasion of Haiti, Napolean offers entire territory for $15 million

4. Jefferson's vision of an American continent outweighed his belief in a strict interpretation of the Constitution and the Louisiana Territory was added to the U.S.

5. Two expeditions sent out to explore new land:

a) Lewis & Clark (1804-6) ascended Missouri to source, then crossed the Rockies to the Pacific.

b) Zebulon Pike (1805) explored headwaters of Mississippi and southern Rocky Mountains.

B. Conflict over neutral rights


1. British and French ships seized American cargoes and sailors

2. Jefferson responded with Embargo Act which prohibited all American trade with foreign ports

a) Greatly harmed American shipping

b) Jefferson became object of hate in New England

3. Non-intercourse Act replaced Embargo Act


a) Reopened trade with all nations except England and France

b) Provided for re-opening of trade with England and France if interference ended

C. Western demands for war. Reasons for western pressure

1. Depression in Ohio Valley

2.) Desire for land in Canada and Florida


a) Future fur-trading
b) Region needed for expansion of settlers


3) Indian warfare with confederation organized by Tecumseh. Battle of Tippecanoe convinced war hawks of British assistance to Indians.




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Please cite this source when appropriate:

 Feldmeth, Greg D. "Jeffersonian Era," U.S. History Resources <http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/lec.jeff.html (Revised w7 June 2004).

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