During the course of the years, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison dealt with major domestic and foreign policies. These policies helped shape the way for the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States between 1743-1826. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. James Madison was the fourth President of the United States between 1808-1817 and the Father of the Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson’s accession to the presidency is notable in American history because it marked the first transfer of national authority from one political group to another, and it is especially significant that, despite Federalist obstructionism for a time, the transition was effected by peaceful and strictly constitutional means. Furthermore, Jefferson and the Republicans felt the federal judiciary constituted a branch of the opposing party. The Republicans repealed the Judiciary Act of 1801 with his full approval. But he was rebuked by Chief Justice John Marshall in the famous case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) for withholding the commission of a Late-hour appointee as justice of the peace. The most notable policy of Jefferson’s presidency was the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. His concerns for the free navigation of the Mississippi River had caused him, while secretary of state, to assume a more belligerent tone toward Spain, which controlled the mouth of the river, than toward any other nation. Meanwhile, Jefferson had to deal with the conspiracy of former Vice President Aaron Burr. He took steps in the fall of 1806 that led to the seizure of most of Burr’s boats on the Mississippi. American commerce was caught in the crossfire between British Order in Council and Napoleonic decrees. Recognizing the impossibility of coping with both blockades, but determined not to take sides in this conflict and convinced that peace was in the best interest of his young country, Jefferson and his government sought to safeguard American life and shipping and to bring pressure on the rival powers by suspending commerce. The embargo, adopted in December 1807 and strengthen by later legislation, was regarded by Jefferson as the only alternative to war and submission. The act barred all exports to Britain and France.
The Essay on Thomas Jefferson and American History
“Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.”Those are the words of Thomas Jefferson; one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and among the first Americans to have to defend the newly won liberties of Americans from intrusion against a greater world power. It makes Thomas Jefferson one of the most prominent leaders and individuals in the United States.Thomas ...
During the first years of Madison’s administration, the United States prohibited trade with both Britain and France. James Madison established more unions, than all his three predecessors. James Madison supported and sponsored the chartering of the Second Band of the United States because the economy at that time was off balance because of the War of 1812. He helped with the Seminole War by appointing General Andrew Jackson to take care of the problem of the Seminole Indians. This policy made by Madison lead to Jackson’s invasion of Florida. Another important policy was the Rush-Bagot Agreement of 1818. In this agreement, the U.S. and Great Britain agreed that the Great Lakes would be demilitarized, which means that Britain would reduce its navy in the Great Lakes. He dealt with the Convention of 1818. The U.S. and Britain agreed upon the rights of American fishermen in certain areas and the establishment of a border between the U.S. and Canada at the 49th Parallel.
The United States engaged in important policies made by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison that helped in the structure our country. These domestic and foreign policies help preserve the rights of the American government. They also helped the balance the economy from the War of 1812. Finally, they helped to safeguard American’s life in American commerce in a peaceful manner.
