Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson, an advocate of limited government & state’s rights, purchased Louisiana Territory from France in 1803
This action had no sanction in the Constitution
830,000 square miles, almost doubling the size of the country
since this area was in the south, it would swamp the influence of the Federalists in New England
But, it also removed the threat of a Napoleonic influence in America
Following the purchase Jefferson sponsored the Lewis & Clark expedition – explore the new lands
Additionally, Lewis & Clark brought claims to the shore of the Pacific (lasted 2 years)
Jefferson also proposed a national system of roads & canals to unite East & West, eventually stretching from Maryland to Illinois
War of 1812
Federalist & DR schism remained central to American politics, through Presidents Jefferson & Madison
Long dissatisfaction w/ French & British blockades & Impressment
1807 British attacked a US Warship in Chesapeake Bay
US reacted w/ embargoes for the next two years – virtually shutting down the US commerce w/Europe
1809 French agreed to respect the American ships at sea
British did not
"war hawks" were mainly concentrated in the south & west
Westerners had less to fear from British – they could gain Canada & remove Indians who allied themselves w/England
Declaration of War was a close vote – referred to as Mr. Madison’s war in New England – MA, Conn. & RI voted against permitting their militia to fight
MA governor called for a public fast to bemoan a war "against the nation from which we are descended"
Most of the land fighting involved the US trying to take Canada
Little success in "liberating" Canada, the US even lost Detroit & Ft. Dearborn for a time
1814 British invade NY, burning buildings in Washington DC
British made demands – as the price for peace: a huge buffer state for Indians (WI, IL, IN, OH, & MI), reassert British rights to the Mississippi River & Great Lakes
But, Baltimore stood – subject of the lyrics for the National Anthem & the British suffered a naval defeat on Lake Champlain
Last major battle was Jan. 1815 when A. Jackson defeated the British, who were trying to take New Orleans (a month after a peace treaty was signed)
In the end, the old boundaries were restored & Indian Allies were left w/o protection
Federalists, who used the war to promote their re-emergence, were left w/ treasonous accusations as their talk of succession was over-run w/ nationalist pride
1816 & 1820 James Monroe (DR) 1824 John Q. Adams (DR) won the presidency – US was almost a ONE political party system