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CHAPTER 7
The Early Republic, 1800–1815
This chapter focuses on the political events of the years 1800–1815, including the Jefferson and Madison
administrations and the War of 1812. Beginning with an overview of the period, the chapter then covers
the events of Jefferson’s two terms in office, the rising forces of democracy, the landmark Marbury v.
Madison case, the Louisiana Purchase, and the evolution of Jeffersonian Republicanism. The following
CHAPTER OUTLINE
I. Jeffersonian Republicanism
A. The “People’s President”
B. A More Democratic America
C. A Contradictory Genius
D. Jefferson in Office
E. Marbury v. Madison
F. Jefferson’s Economic Policies
G. The Barbary Pirates
H. Western Expansion
C The Chesapeake Incident (1807)
D. The Embargo
E. James Madison and the Drift to War
III. The War of 1812
A. Shipping Rights and National Honor
L. The Burning of Washington
M. The Battle of Lake Champlain
IV. The Aftermath of the War
A. The Treaty of Ghent
B. The Battle of New Orleans
LECTURE IDEAS
1. A good overview lecture of the Jefferson administration will help students understand this chapter. The
textbook emphasizes Jefferson’s many contradictions, and this is a good place to start. A look at
2. Given Jefferson’s centrality in our history, an incredibly important issue is his attitude toward slavery
and how it might have been affected by his relationship with his slave mistress, Sally Hemings. An
(2008).
3. More than two centuries after the Louisiana Purchase, some historians have argued that it
foreshadowed the future of the United States, especially in New Orleans, with its ethnic and cultural
4. The Lewis and Clark explorations could be used to illustrate a number of points, such as the Louisiana
Purchase and westward expansion. A good source for a lecture on Lewis and Clark is David F. Hawke’s
5. Give a lecture on dueling and how it illustrated concepts of honor and the rough-and-tumble nature of
politics in the early national period. Focus especially on the Burr and Hamilton duel, as it is surely the
3. The War of 1812 is one of the least known wars in the history of the nation. Examine the causes that
brought about the war and how the nation was changed afterward. The best overview of the war
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES
1. John Marshall served as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court for thirty-four years. During
his tenure, the nation was essentially defined in regard to the rule of law. Discuss some of Marshall’s
most famous decisions and how they impacted national development. The discussion, like the textbook,
might also focus on Marbury v. Madison. Consider not only Madison’s views, but Jefferson’s opposition
to the stance of the chief justice. Why was Jefferson’s position eclipsed, and was this inevitable? Two
2. The Louisiana Purchase was one of the most important developments in the nation’s past. Jefferson’s
critics charged that the Constitution did not provide authority to the president to purchase the land or
Jefferson violated his strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution. Ask your students to
consider the validity of these arguments, as well as examine the ways in which the purchase changed
3. Provide your students with a blank map of North America and ask them to trace the Lewis and Clark
expedition from its starting point near St. Louis to the Pacific coast. Then, divide them into small
groups and have them visit the National Parks Service site to explore the stops along the trail using an
4. Divide the class into two groups and have them look at the War of 1812 from both the American and
British perspectives, respectively. Remind the students that while Americans often view the war as
5. Ask students to research the role of women during the War of 1812. Some good sources include:
• The Kent-DeLord Museum: https://kentdelordhousemuseum.wordpress.com/tag/women-in-the-
1. Led by John Randolph of Roanoke, the Old Republicans became outspoken critics of Jefferson during
his second term. Examine their criticisms and their vision for America.
2. What was the role of Sacagawea in the Lewis and Clark expeditions?
3. Thomas Jefferson’s decision to enact the embargo is one of the most criticized moments in American
history. Did he make the right decision?
4. Why did the United States go to war with Britain in 1812? Which groups of people supported and
opposed the war? Why?
5. Examine Tecumseh’s attempt to unify western Indians against the Americans. Was his defeat an
important moment in Indian-Anglo relations?
7. What was the significance of the Hartford Convention?
PRACTICING CITIZENSHIP
This chapter details the efforts of the Jefferson and Madison administrations to use the economic pressure
of embargoes or trade restrictions to inspire the British and French to change their policies of interfering
with American merchant vessels. Obviously, these efforts had very limited success. Are such efforts any
more successful today? Find one or two examples of countries upon which the United States imposes a
