Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonPresidencyPresidency1801-18091801-1809

Brief BiographyBrief Biography► Jefferson was born April 13,1743 in Shadwell, Virginia Jefferson was born April 13,1743 in Shadwell, Virginia

and died July 4, 1826 at his home Monticelloand died July 4, 1826 at his home Monticello► Attended William and Mary College, practiced law, Attended William and Mary College, practiced law,

served in local government and was a member of the served in local government and was a member of the House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses

► Married Martha Wayles Skelton when he was 29. Married Martha Wayles Skelton when he was 29. Lived together happily for 10 years until her death. Lived together happily for 10 years until her death. They had 6 children, but only two survived until They had 6 children, but only two survived until adulthoodadulthood

► Jefferson inherited a landed estate from his father, Jefferson inherited a landed estate from his father, slaves from his father –in-law. Of the approximately slaves from his father –in-law. Of the approximately 200 slaves, 80 lived at Monticello and the others 200 slaves, 80 lived at Monticello and the others lived on his other estates (Freed two in his lifetime lived on his other estates (Freed two in his lifetime and 5 in his will – all members of the Hemings family)and 5 in his will – all members of the Hemings family)

Jefferson’s life long Jefferson’s life long accomplishmentsaccomplishments

► PublicPublic Elected to House of BurgessesElected to House of Burgesses 1775 Elected to Continental Congress1775 Elected to Continental Congress 1776 drafted Declaration of Independence1776 drafted Declaration of Independence 1779-1781 Governor of Virginia1779-1781 Governor of Virginia 1783 Elected to Congress1783 Elected to Congress 1790-1793 Served as First Secretary of State1790-1793 Served as First Secretary of State 1797-1801 Served as Vice President1797-1801 Served as Vice President 1801-1809 served as President of the United States1801-1809 served as President of the United States 1803 launched Lewis and Clark Expedition1803 launched Lewis and Clark Expedition 1815 sold 6,700 volume library to Congress, the foundation 1815 sold 6,700 volume library to Congress, the foundation

of the Library of Congressof the Library of Congress 1817 began building of University of Virginia1817 began building of University of Virginia

http://www.fightthebias.com/site_images/Thomas_Jefferson_stamp.jpg

Jefferson’s PresidencyJefferson’s Presidency1801-18091801-1809

► Vice PresidentsVice Presidents Aaron BurrAaron Burr George ClintonGeorge Clinton

► Political PartyPolitical Party Democratic –Democratic –

RepublicanRepublican►Strict interpretation of Strict interpretation of

ConstitutionConstitution►State’s rightsState’s rights

Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs

► Jefferson continues to avoid foreign Jefferson continues to avoid foreign affairs with other nationsaffairs with other nations

►Kept the United States neutral in the Kept the United States neutral in the midst of a conflict between Britain and midst of a conflict between Britain and FranceFrance

Domestic PolicyDomestic Policy

►1212thth amendment added to Constitution amendment added to Constitution after the election of 1800. Split after the election of 1800. Split electoral votes for President and Vice-electoral votes for President and Vice-President into two ballotsPresident into two ballots

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase

► As US expanded westward, As US expanded westward, navigation of the Mississippi navigation of the Mississippi River and access to New River and access to New Orleans had become critical Orleans had become critical to commerceto commerce

► 1802 Spain’s King 1802 Spain’s King transferred territory to transferred territory to France and its leader France and its leader Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

► Jefferson sends James Jefferson sends James Monroe to Paris to deal for Monroe to Paris to deal for land on the east of the land on the east of the Mississippi and New Orleans Mississippi and New Orleans – 10 million dollars– 10 million dollars

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase► Napoleon’s plan to Napoleon’s plan to

reassert itself on North reassert itself on North America was falling America was falling apart because the apart because the French Army was French Army was occupied in Haiti occupied in Haiti suppressing rebellion suppressing rebellion and war with England and war with England inevitable – he wanted inevitable – he wanted to sell ALL the land!to sell ALL the land!

► Monroe and Livingston Monroe and Livingston reached an agreement reached an agreement that exceeded their that exceeded their authority and the bought authority and the bought all the land for 15 million all the land for 15 million dollars! dollars! ($18 per sq. mile)($18 per sq. mile)

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase827,000 sq miles, doubled the size of the United States

Louisiana PurchaseLouisiana Purchase

► Jefferson has created a dilemma for Jefferson has created a dilemma for himself….himself…. No where in the Constitution does it say that the US can No where in the Constitution does it say that the US can

buy land!buy land! Jefferson saw 2 major benefits……Jefferson saw 2 major benefits……

►Doubled the size of the USDoubled the size of the US►Full control of the MississippiFull control of the Mississippi

Jefferson later admitted that he had stretched his power "till it cracked" in order to buy Louisiana, the largest single land purchase in American history. As a result, generations of Americans for nearly 200 years have been the beneficiaries of Jefferson's noble vision of America and his efforts at expanding the continent.

► In this critical cartoon, Thomas Jefferson as the cock In this critical cartoon, Thomas Jefferson as the cock or rooster, courts a hen, portrayed as Sally or rooster, courts a hen, portrayed as Sally Hemings. Contemporary political opponents of Hemings. Contemporary political opponents of Jefferson sought to destroy his presidency and his Jefferson sought to destroy his presidency and his new political party with charges of Jefferson's new political party with charges of Jefferson's promiscuous behavior and his ownership of slaves. promiscuous behavior and his ownership of slaves. The cock was also a symbol of revolutionary France, The cock was also a symbol of revolutionary France, which Jefferson was known to admire and which, his which Jefferson was known to admire and which, his critics believed, Jefferson unduly favored. critics believed, Jefferson unduly favored.

Mad Tom in a RageMad Tom in a Rage

►Who are the men Who are the men holding the rope?holding the rope?

►Was this cartoon Was this cartoon drawn by a drawn by a Federalist or a Federalist or a Republican?Republican?

►What is the man What is the man trying to pull down?trying to pull down?

Don’t worry son I will give you all my strength

This thing is strong, but with your help I will bring it down!

Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark ExpeditionOriginsOrigins

““On January 18, 1803, President Jefferson sent On January 18, 1803, President Jefferson sent a confidential letter to Congress asking for a confidential letter to Congress asking for $2,500 to fund an expedition to the Pacific $2,500 to fund an expedition to the Pacific Ocean. He hoped to establish trade with the Ocean. He hoped to establish trade with the Native American people of the West and find Native American people of the West and find a water route to the Pacific. Jefferson also a water route to the Pacific. Jefferson also was fascinated by the prospect of what could was fascinated by the prospect of what could be learned about the geography of the West, be learned about the geography of the West, the lives and languages of the Native the lives and languages of the Native Americans, the plants and animals, the soil, Americans, the plants and animals, the soil, the rocks, the weather, and how they differed the rocks, the weather, and how they differed from those in the East.”from those in the East.”

Lewis and Clark – Corps of Lewis and Clark – Corps of DiscoveryDiscovery

► Jefferson chooses Captain Meriwether Lewis Jefferson chooses Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the expeditionto lead the expedition

► Lewis gets instructions from Jefferson to Lewis gets instructions from Jefferson to learn about the geography – lat and long, learn about the geography – lat and long, make maps, learn about the Native make maps, learn about the Native populations, what they eat, what they know populations, what they eat, what they know and what remedies they use, they are to and what remedies they use, they are to take notes on game and vegetation. They take notes on game and vegetation. They are to be friendly!are to be friendly!

► Jefferson uses a coded message Jefferson uses a coded message

http://www.monticello.org/education/lcresource/packinglist.html