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Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson Is considered as on of the Founding Fathers of the United States due to the fact that he played a huge role in drafting the Declaration Of Independence. He was a governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War. Later on in 1801, he was elected as the third president of the United States. -
Election of 1800
In 1796, during the presidential campaign, Jefferson lost the electoral college vote to John Adams. In 1800, Adams and Jefferson ran against each other. Adams won more college electoral votes, but unexpectedly, Jefferson and his Vice president Aaron Burr tied with Adams and therefore, Federalist-dominated House of Representatives were to decide who would win. The House elected Jefferson as president and Aaron Burr as Vice President. -
During his Presidency
During his presidency, Jefferson wasn't very formal at all. He dressed plain and arrived alone on a horse without escort. While in office, Jefferson had a debt of 83 million dollars. He started to take apart Alexander Hamilton's Federalist fiscal system with help from Albert Gallatin. Thomas Jefferson's administration eliminated taxes after closing "unnecessary offices" -
Louisiana Purchase
New Orleans was the center of trade because of its location. New Orleans was owned by the Spanish and so was the Louisiana Territory. Later on, the French won over the Louisiana Territory and New Orleans. Then, Thomas Jefferson decided to purchase New Orleans, but since the French were having financial problems, they decided to make a deal with Thomas Jefferson and give him the Louisiana Territory including New Orleans for $15 million. This doubled U.S.'s size. -
Embargo Act
While trading with the French and British, the United States trading ships were being attacked by the French and British. The French and British would get American goods without trading anything for them. Because of this, during December of 1807, Thomas Jefferson passed the Embargo Act which said that there was to be no trading with other countries. By doing this Thomas Jefferson thought that the other countries would get desperate and would stop attacking the United States trading ships. -
The Defeat of The Barbary Pirates
Barbary Pirates were pirates who operated from North Africa. Barbary Pirates captured different ships from countries and help them at ransom. The countries would pay these ransoms to remain at peace with the Barbary Pirates. The Barbary Pirates made their way to the United States. They held Americans at ransom, but when the Barbary Pirates end to the U.S. for their money, the U.S. said no, which was never done before. Later on, the U.S. went to was with them twice before defeating them for good.