The Jeffersonians, 1801-1829

VOICES FROM AMERICA’S PAST
Edited by Richard B. Morris Gouverneur Morris Professor of History Columbia University New York, New York
James Woodress Chairman, Department of English San Fernando Valley State College Northridge, California
WEBSTER PUBLISHING COMPANY ST. LOUIS ATLANTA DALLAS
VOICES FROM AMERICA’S PAST The Beginnings of America 1607-1763 The Times That Tried Men’s Souls 1770-1783 The Age of Washington 1783-1801 The Jeffersonians 1801-1829 Jacksonian Democracy 1829-1848 The Westward Movement 1832-1889 A House Divided: The Civil War 1850-1865 ( Other titles in preparation )
Copyright ©, 1961, by Webster Publishing Company Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved
The early part of the last century was an exciting time to live in America. The signers of the Declaration of Independence and the framers of the Constitution, mostly old men by now, saw that their experiment in republican government had turned out to be a success. The nation was flourishing in these years like a healthy adolescent. There were growing pains, to be sure, but no one doubted now that the youngster would reach manhood. The question was: What is he going to be like?
The party battles of John Adams’ administration left the Federalist Party in ruins, and Thomas Jefferson succeeded to the presidency with an overwhelming popular mandate. During his first term, Jefferson increased his popularity through buying from France the enormous Louisiana Territory which doubled the size of the United States. By the time the Lewis and Clark Expedition returned from exploring the new land, people began to realize the immense possibilities that the Louisiana Purchase held for the future of the United States.
Jefferson’s second term was beset by foreign problems that culminated eventually in the War of 1812, during James Madison’s administration. Despite George Washington’s advice in his Farewell Address to stay out of entangling foreign alliances, America could not avoid being affected by events abroad. She was caught between the hammer and the anvil during Napoleon’s wars with the rest of Europe. The War of 1812 settled no issues but, soon afterward, the main Anglo-American problems left over from the Revolution were adjusted. Napoleon’s downfall at Waterloo removed France as an obstacle to American development.