another history paper...disregard
A man once known as a “brandy-soaked defamer of churches” stepped into office as president in 1800. Better known as Thomas Jefferson, he became a completely different national leader than his federalist predecessor before him (John Adams). He was the first president to be inaugurated in the new nation’s capital, Washington City. As soon as he stepped into office, he began to take immediate action. He started out by trying to repeal the Judiciary act of 1801, but with much Federalist dismay and the constitution holding him back, he had to convert the Judiciary act of 1801 to the Judiciary act of 1802. The power of this new act was never tested. Meanwhile, Jefferson tried to impeach as many of the federalist judges and his first target was John Pickering. The impeachment of this staggering drunkard only led more power to the Republicans. The slew of impeachments didn’t work out all too well, though, because not all men were as incompetent as Pickering was. Jefferson then hired Albert Gallatin as the treasury secretary to create a better, debt-free America. Gallatin ended up closing down American embassies and even decreasing America’s military in half! This wasn’t such a wise choice knowing that America could not be fully protected with only seven ships and half the military that they used to have. However, Jefferson stuck by Gallatin’s decision diligently, hoping that it would relieve America of its missing funds.
Jefferson was also hoping to cut the costs of America by refusing to pay the Barbary pirates tribute for leaving alone American vessels. Out of stubbornness, Jefferson rather that he declare war on the pirates rather than pay the pirates money that didn’t deserve. As a result the Barbary pirates seized the Philadelphia (in 1801), a prized American vessel, and the men who were aboard it. The pirates demanded a $60,000 dollar ransom to return the missing sailors and for them to leave traveling American ships alone. The men were finally released in 1805.
Among all this international turmoil, Jefferson had his eye on one main vision: to expand westward. He worried deeply about the amount of Indian, French and Spainish civilians there, and was hoping to expand his existing colonies westward.
Jefferson was also hoping to cut the costs of America by refusing to pay the Barbary pirates tribute for leaving alone American vessels. Out of stubbornness, Jefferson rather that he declare war on the pirates rather than pay the pirates money that didn’t deserve. As a result the Barbary pirates seized the Philadelphia (in 1801), a prized American vessel, and the men who were aboard it. The pirates demanded a $60,000 dollar ransom to return the missing sailors and for them to leave traveling American ships alone. The men were finally released in 1805.
Among all this international turmoil, Jefferson had his eye on one main vision: to expand westward. He worried deeply about the amount of Indian, French and Spainish civilians there, and was hoping to expand his existing colonies westward.