Thomas Jefferson

Federalists→ John Adams
Dem-Repub→ Thomas Jefferson

click to edit

Jefferson won by 8 electoral votes

However...Jefferson’s running mate (Aaron Burr) received same # of votes (TIE...uh oh…)

House of Reps (controlled by Federalists) had to choose the winner...

Dem-Republican
power of the presidency transferred to the other party

1st president to take the oath of office in the new capital, Washington D.C.!

Set a simplistic tone→ informal inauguration
Inauguration speech:

Federalist

click to edit

Loose interpretation of the Constitution (claims there are “implied powers” granted to the federal gov’t)

Powers may not explicitly be listed, but are still granted to the federal gov’t through the “elastic clause” in Article I

Let the federal gov’t stretch its powers in unforeseen circumstances (war, etc.)

Democratic Republicans

Strict interpretation of the Constitution (what it says is what it means)
Only powers explicitly listed are allowed to be claimed by the federal gov’t (preserves more power to the states)

Jefferson’s Political Philosophy

Even though Jefferson’s political philosophy (Dem-Repub) leaned more towards de-centralizing the federal gov’t (more power to states) & strict interpretation of the Constitution...his actions as president are quite the opposite...

Louisiana Purchase

click to edit

Louisiana→ part of New France (controlled by Napoleon Bonaparte)

New Orleans→ key port (trade) on Mississippi River

Jefferson sent Robert Livingston & James Monroe to France to purchase New Orleans for the U.S.

Napoleon decided to sell entire Louisiana territory to U.S. because he needed money for France & wanted a way to keep British from expanding in North America