Thomas Jefferson: Presidency

1800 Election and Inauguration

As a statesman, Jefferson was allied with what was then called the Democratic-Republican party against the opposing Federalist party. He became one of those associated with the concept of "state's rights." Jefferson fought for influence with Alexander Hamilton, who was at that time Secretary of the Treasury in Washington's cabinet, disagreeing on the issue of the French Revolution as well as the ideal structure of the new American government.

Jefferson ran for president in 1796 and lost to John Adams in a close election. In 1800, Jefferson ran against Adams again and won. The 1800 election was a hotly contested one between the Federalists and Democrat-Republicans, with accusations of faulty balloting and a high degree of competitive campaigning. In the end, Jefferson received the most electoral votes and took the presidency from the incumbent Adams. The last roadblock to Jefferson's success came in the form of repeated voting in the House of Representatives, where Federalists tried to use the electoral rules to elect Burr, Jefferson's running mate, president instead of allowing Jefferson to gain the position. A tie vote was cast, but the legislature eventually awarded the presidency to Jefferson.

Jefferson's inauguration marked the first handover of presidential power between political parties. John Adams, the second president, had been a Federalist, and Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican. However, historians have made much of the friendship between the two men. Although according to historians, Federalists had been nervous about Jefferson's entry into office, history proved that he was able to make the transition relatively smooth, with a strong inaugural address and a plan to move the nation forward from his first days in office.

Presidency

Jefferson attained the presidential office in March of 1801. In a reference to conflict between the Democratic-Republican and Federalist parties, Jefferson was often called the "people's president."

During Jefferson's first term, he cut military budgets and reduced the national debt. This first term also saw the acquisition of the Louisiana territory in 1803, a historic treaty which greatly increased the area of the United States. The First Barbary War, a successful military campaign against pirates in the Mediterranean, also enhanced Jefferson's stature as a popular leader.

Jefferson's second term focused on neutrality during conflicts between Britain and France. Slavery also became an issue in Jefferson's second term. Jefferson passed a law prohibiting importation of slaves in 1808. Although the bill was popular with southern farmers because it would raise the values of existing slaves, it was controversial and caused criticism of the president from some quarters. Historians have suggested that this was partially due to conflict between the North and the South, where some contend the southern states had disproportionate influence over the nation. In general, Jefferson's two terms saw a significant amount of controversy over the policy of slavery that would continue until the American Civil War in the 1860s.

During his second term, Jefferson had to deal with attempts at secession of western areas of the country and the attempted formation of a second confederacy of western states. A controversial shipping embargo also weakened Jefferson politically. According to historians, Jefferson's second term did not go nearly as well as his first, and a series of liabilities made him eager to leave the White House at the end of his second term.

Jefferson was succeeded as president by James Madison in 1809. Madison was known to be Jefferson's political ally prior to Jefferson's inauguration.