DBQ 4: Thomas Jefferson And Alexander Hamilton

Kyle Berry
AP US History
Olsen
Period 3
DBQ 4: Thomas Jefferson and Philosophical Consistency
In 1800, the American people were ready for a change and shift in political power. The nation had the choice between Federalist John Adams or Republican Thomas Jefferson. The election was often referred to as the Revolution of 1800, the year Thomas Jefferson defeated
John Adams to be elected as the nation's new president. Years prior to the Election of 1800,
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton argued over issues of of constitutional interpretation, the policies of the Republicans in the years of their presidency (1801­1817) reflected the same beliefs as the Federalists. Jefferson went against his his convictions that got him elected by
However, with the foreign affairs between the Barbary Pirates, who kept capturing American ships on the Mediterranean and enslaving the crew members. This led Jefferson to dismissing American armed forces around the globe to focus on the Barbary Pirates in North Africa (Document E). Jefferson had gone against his own issue on a smaller military and against congress. Only congress can send Americans out in combat, but on his own, Jefferson ordered warships out to the Mediterranean to battle the
Barbary Pirates. He didn’t inform the congress of his actions and choice until the ships had already sailed halfway. Jefferson first contradicting action he made as a president was when he

went against his views on a smaller military and sent out American warships to the
Mediterranean to battle the Barbary Pirates and rescue American prisoners.
When the National Bank was established in 1791 by Hamilton and Washington, Jefferson had his own views on it whether it should exist or not. Jefferson objected the National Bank because he thought it would interfere with the development of state banks (Document A). Years after his election, he renewed the First Bank of America and created the Second Bank of the
He wanted to purchase the land to expand farms and let each white citizen or family own their own piece of land. The purchase may’ve been a steal at the time, but it was unconstitutional of Jefferson to purchase a great amount of land like that. He spent money that the country didn’t have without permission from the House of Representatives and Congress. The action Jefferson made was as well hypocritical because he done something he argued against Hamilton. The Federalists opposed of this purchase favoring close ties with Britain. Jefferson’s Secretary of State however assured Jefferson that the purchase was within the strictest interpretation of the constitution. He was cutting it very close though when he purchased the land.
The Embargo Act was a general Embargo which made exports illegal in the United states of America that was sponsored by Thomas Jefferson. The Anti­Federalists (Republicans) were

trade partners with France, while the Federalist were trade partners with Britain. As Jefferson and the Republicans won the election, it meant that a majority of the trades would involve
France. However, when the Embargo Act was created, it made trading with other