Thomas Jefferson

Served as president from 1801-1809
Era: The Early National Era

American Identity and Culture
As Thomas Jefferson became the third U.S. president, the nation experienced a shift in power from the Federalists to the Democratic Republicans. This smooth transition of power from one political party to the other came to be known as the Revolution of 1800. During Jefferson’s inaugural address in 1801, he emphasized how important the fundamental principles of the country were and stated: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.” Eventually, the Federalist Party seized to exist. Therefore, it can be argued that the people were “all Republicans” during his presidency. Under Jefferson’s leadership, the country endured a political change and strengthened its spirit for democracy and nationalism.
Economic Transformations and Globalization
During Jefferson’s presidency, American settlers in the Indiana Territory depended on the commerce along the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans for survival. As a result, they were frightened when Spanish officials closed the port to Americans in 1802. President Jefferson also feared that the United States risked getting involved in European affairs because another nation was controlling the river. In the end, the United States and France agreed on the Louisiana Purchase where the U.S. bought the Louisiana Territory. The country expanded more than twice its original size and this added to Jefferson’s dreams for an agrarian society of independent farmers in the future due to the acquisition of millions of acres of land.
Environment
Before an agreement was reached for the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson managed to persuade Congress to finance an expedition of the area for scientific research which was headed by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark. After the U.S. bought the territory from France, the expedition’s importance only grew. It had started at St. Louis, went through the Rocky Mountains, and then arrived at the Oregon coast before turning back around to report its findings. The scientific exploration yielded results that: provided more information on the science and geography of the land, strengthened American claims to Oregon, mended relationships with Native American tribes, and created maps and routes for future settlers and the area’s fur trappers.
Politics and Citizenship
Once Jefferson took office, he attempted to block John Adams’ last minute Federalist appointments. Therefore, he commanded James Madison, who was his Secretary of State, not to hand over the commissions of Adams’ “midnight judges”. One of these “midnight appointments” named William Marbury decided to sue for his commission. The outcome of the court case of Marbury v. Madison was determined by Chief Justice John Marshall. He declared that Marbury was entitled to the commission, but Madison did not have the right to deliver it because it was not stated in the Constitution. He also ruled that the Court had the power to declare laws unconstitutional and as a result, established judicial review.
Slavery and its legacies in North America
President Jefferson was hypocritical in his stance on the institution of slavery. Although he saw it as wrong and immoral, Jefferson had a plantation and kept slaves of his own. He also believed that African Americans were racially inferior. This meant that he believed that slaves should be emancipated, yet he did not see them as equals to white men. During his presidency, slavery was still legal and it was far from being demolished. The country relied on slaves as a free source of labor and had them doing backbreaking work.
War and Diplomacy
The Leopard, a British warship, fired on the Chesapeake which was a warship belonging to the United States in 1807. This attack killed three U.S. citizens and resulted in the impressments of four others to Britain’s navy. This event was named the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair and raised anti-British sentiment in the U.S. and the demand for war. Jefferson handled this situation by calling for the ratification of the Embargo Act of 1807. This halted trade with foreign nations by stopping American merchant ships from sailing to their ports. It was Jefferson’s attempt to stop the British from violating the United States’ neutral rights during Britain’s Napoleonic wars with France. Unfortunately, the Embargo Act failed and he repealed it in 1809. Even then, U.S. ships could only engage in legal commerce with all nations, with the exception of Britain and France.