Transcript Slide 1
Mr. Giesler
American History
Topics We Will Examine
Jeffersonian Democracy
Limited Central Government and Pro States Rights
Judicial powers strengthen
Territorial expansion
1801-1809
Jeffersonian Democracy
Abandoned Aristocratic Democracy
TTYN:
What is an Aristocrat?
Jefferson: The Founder of American Democracy?
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Led and largely created the Republican Party, by which the Federalists, who
were anti-democratic, were unseated
First President who believed in democracy and sought to establish it
Jefferson – A democrat for the people, not of the people!
Jeffersonian Democracy
Thomas Jefferson biographer once wrote that “there were probably
twice of thrice many four-horse carriages in Virginia before the
revolution as there are at present time; but the number of two-horse
carriages may be ten, or even twenty times as great as at the former
period.”
The Progress of Democracy
TTYN: What does this statement illustrate?
Jeffersonian Democracy
TTYN: Read the passage below. What is Jefferson telling the reader?
The ‘real’ meaning.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends,
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.”
Jeffersonian Democracy
The Meaning of Jefferson’s Democracy
When he says “self-evident,” he means it.
The essence of virtue is in doing good to others
Believed in the innate goodness of man that gives the basis for his liberalism
Believed that most men, on the whole, will follow their consciences.
For a few exceptions, laws may be necessary; but in the main, liberty is all
that is needful for the promotion of human happiness.
Favored democracy by the masses
Faith in the common man
Strict interpretation of the constitution
Favored a nation of farmers
Jeffersonian Democracy
Clash With Hamilton
Hoped plutocracy would evolve into aristocracy
Corruption as the best method for causing plutocracy to prevail over
democracy
Argued that the President and Senators should be chosen for life.
leader of the Federalists
Hamilton advocated the growth of manufactures
Child Labor was good
Dislike democracy
Admired England and aimed at making America resemble
Jefferson stood for democracy and agriculture, Hamilton for aristocracy and
urban wealth
Limited Central Government and Pro State Rights
Repealed the Alien and Sedition Acts
TTYN:
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
The Alien and Sedition Acts
1798 the United States was at the brink of war with France (XYZ Affair)
Federalists believed that Democratic-Republican criticism of Federalist policies
was disloyal and feared that aliens living in the United States would sympathize with
the French during a war.
Federalist-controlled Congress passed four laws, known as the Alien and Sedition
Acts.
Raised the residency requirements for citizenship from 5 to 14 years
Authorized the President to deport aliens
Permitted the arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of aliens during wartime.
The Sedition Act made it a crime for American citizens to "print, utter, or publish .
.any false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the Government.
The laws were directed against Democratic-Republicans, the party typically
favored by new citizens
Limited Central Government and Pro State Rights
Whiskey Rebellion
Excise tax imposed on whiskey in 1791 by the federal government, farmers in the
western counties of Pennsylvania engaged in a series of attacks on excise agents.
Jefferson believed that the purpose of government is to protect the “unalienable
rights” of its citizens, and that these rights include “life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.”
People have the right to rebel
Believed a little rebellion now and then was a good thing
“…a medicine necessary for “the sound health of government.”
“the first error was to pass it (the whiskey tax); the second was to enforce it; and the
third, to make it the means of splitting this Union.”
Limited Central Government and Pro State Rights
Jefferson believed that local government was most important
Believed that the emphasis for government should concentrate within the county
and state
While President, Jefferson slashed government expenditures
“I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It is always oppressive.”
“Most bad government has grown out of too much government”
Reduced the national debt
Reduced the size of the military
Although Jefferson condemned Hamilton’s Financial Plan, he did authorize to incorporate
the United State Bank
Jefferson on Judicial Powers
Judiciary act of 1801 (Jefferson repealed
Adams appointment of federal judges
Appt of Marbury
Jud Act of 1789
Compelled court to deliver commissions
Marbury v. Madison
Congress had no constitutional right to give federal courts the powers of Jud. Act
Supreme Court Chief John Marshall
Concept of Judicial Review
Right of supreme court to determine the validity of laws
The courts had the right to nullify an act of congress
Territorial Expansion
France forced Spain to relinquish claims to North America interior
Louisiana Purchase 1803; cost 15M
France sold to help fund Napoleons war
Mississippi to the Rockies
13 states will result
Lewis and Clark 1803-1806
Missouri to Columbia
TTYN:
Does the Louisiana Purchase depict Jefferson as an hypocrite? In other words,
isn’t this “huge” purchase a symbol of ‘big’ government?