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Thomas Jefferson Presidency
This is the timeline of what happened during his presidency. -
1) The Election of 1800
The election was tied between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr twice with 35 votes each. Jefferson eventually won the election when one Federalist changed his vote and he became president and Burr became vice-president. Congress eventually passed the Twelfth Amendment, setting up the procedure for how the votes go. -
2) War with Tripoli
Tripoli raises the tribute, or price, for safe passing through the sea and the United States refuses, so Tripoli declares war on them. Then, Jefferson sends ships to blockade Tripoli. -
3) Spanish-French Agreement Frightens U.S.
The Spanish cut-off the agreement they had and didn't let America move goods through their territory . This alarmed Jefferson because he thought that France and Spain joined forces and gave the Louisiana Territory and Florida to France. Robert Livingston went to France to negotiate a treaty to regain the territory back. -
4) Jefferson Stops the Delivery of Commissions
Jefferson told James Madison to not deliver the commissions that John Adams tried to get out using the Judiciary Act of 1801 so that he can't appoint any people to the Judicial court system. After William Marbury didn't receive his appointment, he demanded he receive his appointment to the court system. The Marbury vs Madison case came up and it presented the three principles of Judicial Review. -
5) Lewis and Clark Expedition
Jefferson persuaded Congress to fund an expedition to gather information of the land and to find and map the Northwest Passage. Meriwether Lewis was chosen by Jefferson and Lewis chose William Clark. They assembled a crew to go with them. -
6) The Louisiana Territory
France offered up the Louisiana Territory and settled for $15 million. The Senate approved the deal and acquired the territory. -
7) Expedition Take-Off
Lewis, Clark and the Crew departed the St. Louis river, beginning the Lewis and Clark Expedition. -
8) Hamilton-Burr Duel
Hamilton, Secretary of Treasury, acuses Burr, Vice-President, of treason and Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton, hating duels, pledges to not shoot Burr, but Burr doesn't care and shoots Hamilton. Hamilton dies the next day and Burr, not wanting to be on trial for murder, flees. But he completes his term as vice-president, not being tried for Hamilton's death. -
9) Capturing USS Philadelphia
Tripoli is still at war with the United States and they capture the USS Philadelphia . But Stephen Decatur, a 25-year-old U.S. Navy Captain, took action by sneaking into the heavily-guarded harbor and set the captured ship on fire so that the pirates can't use it. -
10) Re-election
Thomas Jefferson runs again for president and wins the re-election against Charles Pickney, 162 electoral votes to14 -
11) Peace Treaty
The U.S. signs a treaty with Tripoli to end the war. The United States doesn't have to pay tribute anymore, but they have to pay $60,000 for all the American people that Tripoli have taken during the war. -
12) Search and Seizure
When Britain and France were battling each other, Britain claimed that they were going to search and seize the American ships that were trading with France and France said that they were going to seize American ships that were trading with Britain. This violated America's Neutral Rights. -
13) Pike's Expedition
Pike led two expeditions to gather information about unknown territory. -
14) Embargo/Nonintercourse Acts
Congress passed the Embargo Act to prohibit trade with every foreign country. It was a disaster because without European markets, the South could not sell its tobacco or cotton. The price for wheat fell in the West, and river traffic stopped. With ships confined to their harbors, unemployment rose in New England. They later repealed the Act and replaced it with the Nonintercourse Act, which prohibited trade with only Britain and France, which was also unsuccessful and unpopular with the citizens -
15) British Massacre
The British ship Leopard asked to check the U.S. ship Chesapeake, but they refused to be searched. The British opened fire and killed three crew members and crippled the ship. -
16) Jefferson Withdraws from the election
Jefferson decided to follow the precedent that George Washington set down and he didn't run for a third term. James Madison beat Charles Pickney to become the fourth president with 122 electoral votes to 47.
