Taylor+S.

Thomas Jefferson

April 13, 1763 Shadwell, Virginia- July 4, 1826 Charlottesville, Virginia

Political Party: Democratic-Republican

1st Term: March 4, 1801- March 4, 1805, 2nd Term: March 4, 1805- March 4, 1809

Vice President: Aaron Burr (March 4, 1801- March 4, 1805), George Clinton (March 4, 1805-March 4, 1809)

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Throughout the course of Jefferson’s Presidency, slavery was integral for the American economy. The southern states heavily relied on slavery for their cultivation of their crops and their livelihood. Slaves were used to harvest cotton, tobacco, rice, and many other cash crops. Thomas Jefferson did not have a strong stance on slavery, as he had a multitude of slaves working on his plantation. Jefferson also refused to recognize the new country Haiti, which had just emerged from a slave rebellion, overthrowing the established French government. In the early 1800s, slaves had no freedoms and were oppressed by their white counterparts. Freed African Americans in the northern states had little success at finding jobs and they had little to no rights. During the time of Jefferson’s administration, slavery was very much alive in the American states. =====

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As the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson held the job of furthering the young nations development. From Virginia, Jefferson made himself known to the political community as a young man. He played a crucial role in the development of the Declaration of Independence and was a leader among his countrymen. Jefferson’s presidency marked the end of Federalism in office and gave way to Republican ideas. His term brought the much needed expansion of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase, which set a precedent for further western expansion and economic development. However, he stifled the American economy with the Embargo Act of 1807, which effectively cut off trade with France and England. Thomas Jefferson deserves a B+ for effectively expanding both the American economy and territory. =====

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The main goal Jefferson had during his presidency was to reduce the size and power of federal government. He wanted to take the majority of the power from federal government and give it back to the states and the people as a whole. He believed fully in independence and sought to maintain it for all Americans. Jefferson also addressed national debt and spending, hoping to use federal income to pay off the debt, decrease the federal budget, and cut government spending. However, Jefferson also strove to drastically reduce and eliminate all federal taxes. He stresses in his inaugural address his desire to increase unity between the people of the United States. Jefferson pushed for unity because of the beginnings of a ruthless disagreement between the Federalist and Democratic-Republican political parties that errupted during the Adam’s term. =====

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During Thomas Jefferson’s first term in office, the 7th Congress and 8th Congresses were in session. In the 7th and 8th Congresses, Democratic-Republicans outnumbered Federalist drastically in both Senate and the House of Representatives. Therefore, Jefferson had a strong political backing as a Democratic-Republican. Jefferson worked effectively with Congress in his first term, successfully beginning to pay off national debt and eliminating internal taxes. Congress backed his reduction of power in federal government. Most importantly, Congress worked with Jefferson in supporting the Louisiana Purchase. During Jefferson’s seconds administration, the 9th and 10th Congresses continued to possess a Democratic-Republican majority. Unlike his first term in office, Jefferson’s relationship with Congress began to weaken due to foreign events that caused disagreement between Congressmen. War between Britain and France persuaded President Jefferson to impose an embargo of America’s seagoing commerce as an act to stay out of the conflict. Although backed by congress in the beginning, the embargo was later dismissed and repealed by Congress based on their disagreement with the cost to follow through with it. Near the end of Jefferson’s presidency, Congress started to succeed from Jefferson’s ideals. =====

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The most positive action taken by Jefferson was the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803, Jefferson sought to buy the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte of France. He negotiated the 828,000 square miles at the price of $11,250,000, which totalled to about three cents per acre. Originally, Jefferson was advised against the purchase. The Federalist representatives in Congress disagreed with the purchase based on their aspiration to strengthen their ties with Britain. They believed that agreeing to a deal with France would spark another rivalry with Great Britain. Also, Federalist feared that by buying the territory, they would be declaring war on Spain, who was previously promised the land by France. However, the Louisiana Purchase turned out to be a success. It doubled the land of the United States at the time. It thoroughly dismissed France from the New World, which opened more opportunity for U.S. expansion. Arguably the most important part of the Louisiana Purchase was the fact that the United States gained New Orleans, a strategic port at the base of the Mississippi River. This allowed trade to ensue in the area and gave the U.S. access to the very important Mississippi River. Therefore, the Louisiana Purchase was the most positive action of the Jefferson administration. =====

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The most negative action taken by Jefferson was the Embargo Act of 1807. The embargo was in response to the Napoleanic Wars, specifically those between Britain and France. Both France and England were seizing American ships and cargo, while "recruiting" American sailors to join the French or British Navy. Thomas Jefferson reacted by placing a shipping embargo on both France and England. The embargo refused access to American ports for those countries. Jefferson also made it illegal for American ships to trade with the European nations. With no outlet to trade, American goods spoiled as the never left U.S. ports. The embargo also cost the United States a considerable amount of money because other countries could not purchase American goods, stifling the American profit. In addition, the Embargo Act of 1807 went against Jefferson’s policy of a reduced government. Enforcement of the act called for federal government to take an extreme upper hand. In fact, on January 9, 1809, Jefferson pushed the Enforcement Act through Congress. The Act authorized severe penalties for those not following the Embargo Act. It was argued that the Embargo Act and later the Enforcement Act, violated the government’s Constitutional rights. Jefferson proclaimed himself to be a devout follower of the Constitution, for he was the author. However with the Acts, Congress overstepped its Constitutional boundaries, which forced state legislatures to protects their people and refuse the federal government their militia. Congress was forced to repeal the Embargo Act on March 15, 1809 and was seen as a failure, for it did not solve any issues between France and Britain. Overall, the Embargo Act of 1807 weakened the American economy and caused the once supportive Congress and American population to go against Jefferson. =====

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The Louisiana Purchase was both the most positive and influential decision Thomas Jefferson made during his presidency. For the American people as a whole, the purchase expanded the area of the United States, which made it possible for land-owning and land-seeking Americans to expand. It gave people the opportunity to move westward, creating new jobs and profits around the Mississippi River. It also set a precedent for future presidents with the Manifest Destiny, which was the belief that Americans were “destined” to expand westward across North America. It was seen as a favorable circumstance both politically and from a business standpoint. Jefferson convinced others that America had to expand in order to nourish its growing population and economy. After Jefferson’s time in presidential office, the expansion westward continued. Gradually, the United States ventured past the Appalachian Mountains, monopolizing the territory we know as the United States today. =====

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At the end of Thomas Jefferson’s terms in office, the United States was much better off. With little support originally, Jefferson prevailed over Congress with the Louisiana Purchase, which propelled the United States toward western expansion. He successfully kept America relatively neutral during the Napoleonic Wars, allowing the identity of the country to shape without the influence of foreign affairs. His acts against foreign nations had a negative effect on the American economy and reduced his overall support in Congress. However, Thomas Jefferson was relatively successful as America’s Commander-in-Chief, pushing the nation towards new limits and further successes. =====

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"The American Experience | The Duel | People & Events | Thomas Jefferson." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. < http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/peopleevents/pande07.html>. =====

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"Embargo Act of 1807 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embargo_Act_of_1807>. =====

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"Louisiana Purchase - The History of the Louisiana Purchase." Geography Home Page - Geography at About.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. < http://geography.about.com/od/historyofgeography/a/louisianapurcha.htm>. =====

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"Thomas Jefferson." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016. < www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson>. =====

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"Thomas Jefferson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson>. =====

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1802, and including taking Louisiana territory. "Thomas Jefferson and slavery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia."Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson>. =====