17831775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782

Essential Question

Why is Thomas Jefferson such an important figure?

Why You Should CareJefferson was not only the author of the Declaration of Independence but the leading voice for limiting the power of the government after the founding of the nation.

Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence

Jefferson wrote the 1st draft of the Declaration. His focus on freedom over governments would stick with him.

1776

Washington’s Cabinet

He was Washington’s Secretary of State. He found he loved France. He argued with Hamilton constantly.

1790 – 1793

1800

Election of 1800• Adams’s Federalists vs. Jefferson and Burr’s

Republicans• First time negative campaigning took place.

Federalists said Jefferson was un-Christian. Republicans said Hamilton was power-hungry.

• Jefferson and Burr receive the same number of electoral votes, so the election was decided in the House of Representatives (Federalist-run)

1800

Election of 1800• Most Federalists preferred Burr.

•Hamilton felt Jefferson was the lesser of two evils.

• After numerous tie votes (35!) Hamilton persuades one Federalist not to vote for Burr.

• Adams was sad, Burr was furious, Hamilton was embarrassed and Jefferson was president.

Part 2: TheJeffersonPresidency

Louisiana Purchase

• Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans from France to make sure the port was always open.

• France offered to sell their entire territory (which was as big as the United States itself!)

• The President didn’t seem to have the Constitutional authority to do that. Jefferson did it anyway.

1803

What can I say? I can’t resist a good

deal!

Buy 1 city, get a GIANT

TERRITORY free!!!!!!!!!

(Florida’s not included)

Spain

United States

Educated GuessUse your

brain to make your best guess on the following question.

Jefferson had one of the largest libraries in the US at the time. He had many books on the West. Those books had some interesting “facts” posted in them. Write the numbers of the following that you think were “facts” printed in his books.1. There were woolly mammoths roaming the West.2. There was a tribe of blue-eyed Indians living in the West who spoke a form of

English.3. There was a river or series of connected rivers, starting at the Mississippi, that

crossed the western mountains and reached the Pacific Ocean.4. The Rocky Mountains weren’t really that big.5. The West had many erupting volcanoes.6. Unicorns could be found in the West.7. There were mountains in the West made of salt.8. Some beavers in the West were seven feet tall.9. Buffaloes were friendly and had slim waists.10. Llamas roamed the West.

Lewis and Clark• Jefferson sent a group of explorers west to

figure out exactly what he had bought.• Their main goal was to find a water route to the

Pacific Ocean. (Why? Who cares?)• They catalogued new plants and animals, met with

natives, and greatly improved maps.• Their expedition opened the west for further

settlement.

1803 – 1805

1803 – 1805

1804

1803 – 1805

1818

The Embargo

• Britain and France were still fighting and being jerks.

• The Embargo Act banned trade with all foreign nations.

• Ended up hurting US merchants way more than any foreign traders.

1807

Fine, then we don’t want to play with you any more, neiner, neiner,

neiner.

Embargo

In the end…

• 30 years, two governing documents and 3 Presidents later the United States is…

• …on the verge of war with Britain again.• Jefferson decided not to run for a third term.• His friend, James Madison was elected in

1808.• Could he keep the new nation out of war?

1808