| Thomas Jefferson was a well respected man by the common people. He was apart of the Democratic - Republican Party who represented the interests of common men, and farmers. Which is seemingly questionable considering Jefferson was not raised as a common man nor raised as a farmer. Jefferson being an anti-capitalistic he favored subsistence farming, limitations on federal government, maintaining an agrarian society, the support of France (being a Francophile), and strict interpretation of the Constitution. Jefferson was the former secretary of state thus having experience in office so this was nothing new to him. Thomas Jefferson was the type of president who seemed to be liberal. Being a Demo-Republican he was to strictly follow the Constitution; yet he went against the Constitution and bought Louisiana from the French, started an undeclared war with the Barbary Pirates, and sponsored acts like the Nonintercourse and Embargo Act to deal with British and French actions. Thomas Jefferson may have been experienced in the office of treasury but the experience as a president surely was something new. Jefferson was know as a pragmatist he was not tied to any particular philosophical approach on government but instead adjusted to what was going on in that time frame. Jefferson claimed to be a Demo-Republican yet one his most notable achievements was the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. It was sold by Napoleon in need of money to fight the British. For 15 million dollars Jefferson bought Louisiana, which there was not a single clause in the constitution stating buying territory. For some one who believed in a strict constitution he surely did not show it. Even though it was against his so-called beliefs this deal was just too sweet to reject. With this purchase the territory doubled in size. With the size increase of land Jefferson became curious about it, so he called for Lewis and Clark to explore the new found land in order to find out more things about it. After purchasing this new land Jefferson decided that it was time to find out about the massive new land. Jefferson arranged for an expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Jefferson instructions were clear, the arrangement was for William and Clark to find as much as possible about the territory, topographical features as well as gaining all the scientific evidence about the climate, flora and fauna of the western land. Two years preceding Lewis & Clark's instructions of departure they arrived at the Pacific Ocean. The discoveries found during the expedition of Lewis and Clark were large improvements on America's part. During Jefferson's presidential there were a lot of problems that began, starting in the Barbary States (North Africa) where they were seizing international ships and holding their crews for ransom. Jefferson had no navy for the U.S so its ships vulnerable. Instead of forming a navy Jefferson decided to start an undeclared war with the Barbary pirates, ultimately leading to victory for Jefferson in 1815; putting an end to the Barbary pirates. Now Jefferson was a Demo-Republican and they were all about strict Constitution yet, this Barbary was undeclared so this would be against what Jefferson beliefs were. Before Jefferson became president Hamilton already set the Bank of the U.S in order. This Bank went against every thing Jefferson believed in. This Bank of the U.S would aid the capitalist class by extending them credit; which would allowed for expanded economic growth and control the amount of credit a the current time. The Bank of U.S would allow an enormous amount of power to the federal government. This was not in harmony with Jefferson who saw an agrarian future for the nation. Surprisingly Jefferson did not even seek to eliminate the Bank of the Untied States even though it only helped the wealthy and not common people. Despite all the opposition he claimed he had against the Bank, it stayed. The British and French relationship worsened near the end of Jefferson first term. They intensified their relationship so much to the point where they affected American shipping. French controlled most of Britain’s land while Britain still was the head of the sea. As Britain sought to stop lucrative trade between the U.S and France they eventually lead to events that were extremely out of control. The Essex decision (trade closed during peace time and not opened during war), Leopard-Chesapeake Incident (British blew American sailors off their ship), Orders of Council (preventing neutral nations from trading), Berlin Decree, and Milan Decree. With France and Britain going erratic Jefferson decided to throw out some trade acts which were suppose to punish the French and British. The Nonintercourse act of 1806(failed), Embargo act (affect the U.S more than other nations), Nonintercourse act of 1809(no trade with France, Britain, and belligerents) and Macon's Bill No 2. Thomas Jefferson really hurt the U.S with some of the ideas he had like the acts on trade, rather other ideas like buying Louisiana were just genesis. Jefferson did increase the U.S (land wise) but he went against his own doctrines in order to achieve some of those goals. Buying Louisiana, keeping the Bank of the U.S, declaring wars that were suppose to be declared, and setting laws all went against his beliefs of a strict constitution. |
Monday, October 29, 2007
Evaluate the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson
Friday, October 19, 2007
To what extend were the AOC an inadequate form of government?
Succeeding the French and Indian War independence was longed for, during the American Revolution independence was fought for, winning the Revolution independence was expected. There were already two Continental Congress around yet these were not governments they were merely Congresses. The Congress decided to devise a plan of government called the Articles of Confederation (AOC). The AOC was adopted by the Congress and approved by all the states in 1781. Unfortunatelyby 1787 it was evidently clear that the AOC insfficient for America, lacking the control of the states. The AOC was an inadequate form of government, their central government was extremely weak leaving too much power in the states, no authority for Congress to impose taxes, no provision for a uniform national currency and many more examples for the AOC weakness.
The AOC was not in control, all the power was in the hands of the states. Since there was no chief executive over each state, the states were to provide the army troops to protect the nation. The AOC was designed in that form due to them seeing the result of what happens when one person or a parliment is in control. With the states in control of the government there was no one to deal with foreign affairs, this lead to numerous problems. After the victory of winning the war troblues began soon. The U.S didn't abide by the Treaty of Paris, they promise the loyalist they would pay for the foreign debts and yet it didn't come through. The British broke the Treaty of Paris as well they maintained there forts in the NW territory. All the U.S could do (without having anyone to deal with foreign) was protest, which only made matters worse British placed trade restrictions on the U.S. Their position on foreign affairs were horrible, even Spain sought to exploit the U.S in time of need, they tried everything to get this fresh nations land. The AOC could do nothing about protecting their country.
Problems for the new government did not stop at just foreign affairs but there were also domestic issues. As the U.S emerged from the war there were immediate problems to face on economic concerns. The infant manufacturing sector was notably affect by Great Britain flooding the American market. This had a immense negative affect on U.S trade. Roads, bridges and highways had been neglected so the transportation system was inadequate for trade. Money was needed fast the lack of uniform currency and unrestricted values were given by banks and state governments. This had a direct impact on business transactionswithin and between states. Then interstate trade was affected by the state trade barriers. With all the currency needed the AOC did not even have the authority to tax a single state, they could not even regulate trade. The AOC was hopeless it could not provide an issuses that the U.S had, or even the domestic affairs.
The AOC central government was terrifing and extremely ineffective since the authority was mainly under states, the U.S government was like a kid in a candy store (having no control). The features of the AOC were or should be consider weaknesses by those who had a stronger central government. A unicameral legislature, No authority for Congress to impose taxes, one vote in Congress for each state,no national court system, No prvision for a uniorm national currency, No chief executive, a requirement that nine out of thirteen states approve passage of certain legislation, unanimity for amendment of the AOC, No authority for Congress to regulate either interstate or foreign commerce. For everyone to have unanimity on an amendent just seems impossible not every had the same feelings on a certain law. Under the AOC the U.S would have no currency Congress could not do anything, a unicameral legislature was irrelevant, mainly all the featyres o the AOC were irrelevant. The first form of government was a failure but better ideas did come later in time.
The Articles of Confederation was an inadequate form of government. The Confederations' central government was indeed a weak one, most powers resided in the states and this subsequently became a problem for the new nation under the AOC. In foreign affairs the AOC government had to request troops from states, it had no chief executive or state department to conduct foreign. Domestically, the government did not have the authority to tax, establish a uniform currency, or regulate trade. The AOC was a faliure for the new nation.
The AOC was not in control, all the power was in the hands of the states. Since there was no chief executive over each state, the states were to provide the army troops to protect the nation. The AOC was designed in that form due to them seeing the result of what happens when one person or a parliment is in control. With the states in control of the government there was no one to deal with foreign affairs, this lead to numerous problems. After the victory of winning the war troblues began soon. The U.S didn't abide by the Treaty of Paris, they promise the loyalist they would pay for the foreign debts and yet it didn't come through. The British broke the Treaty of Paris as well they maintained there forts in the NW territory. All the U.S could do (without having anyone to deal with foreign) was protest, which only made matters worse British placed trade restrictions on the U.S. Their position on foreign affairs were horrible, even Spain sought to exploit the U.S in time of need, they tried everything to get this fresh nations land. The AOC could do nothing about protecting their country.
Problems for the new government did not stop at just foreign affairs but there were also domestic issues. As the U.S emerged from the war there were immediate problems to face on economic concerns. The infant manufacturing sector was notably affect by Great Britain flooding the American market. This had a immense negative affect on U.S trade. Roads, bridges and highways had been neglected so the transportation system was inadequate for trade. Money was needed fast the lack of uniform currency and unrestricted values were given by banks and state governments. This had a direct impact on business transactionswithin and between states. Then interstate trade was affected by the state trade barriers. With all the currency needed the AOC did not even have the authority to tax a single state, they could not even regulate trade. The AOC was hopeless it could not provide an issuses that the U.S had, or even the domestic affairs.
The AOC central government was terrifing and extremely ineffective since the authority was mainly under states, the U.S government was like a kid in a candy store (having no control). The features of the AOC were or should be consider weaknesses by those who had a stronger central government. A unicameral legislature, No authority for Congress to impose taxes, one vote in Congress for each state,no national court system, No prvision for a uniorm national currency, No chief executive, a requirement that nine out of thirteen states approve passage of certain legislation, unanimity for amendment of the AOC, No authority for Congress to regulate either interstate or foreign commerce. For everyone to have unanimity on an amendent just seems impossible not every had the same feelings on a certain law. Under the AOC the U.S would have no currency Congress could not do anything, a unicameral legislature was irrelevant, mainly all the featyres o the AOC were irrelevant. The first form of government was a failure but better ideas did come later in time.
The Articles of Confederation was an inadequate form of government. The Confederations' central government was indeed a weak one, most powers resided in the states and this subsequently became a problem for the new nation under the AOC. In foreign affairs the AOC government had to request troops from states, it had no chief executive or state department to conduct foreign. Domestically, the government did not have the authority to tax, establish a uniform currency, or regulate trade. The AOC was a faliure for the new nation.
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