Thomas Jefferson's Vision for the U.S

Quintessence Jones

April 13, 2016

HI131: 3rd Exam

3. Describe Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the United States. How did foreign affairs issues impact Thomas Jefferson’s Republican Party in the years between 1789 and 1815? Did they help to advance Jefferson’s agenda, or hinder it? In your answer, address the XYZ Affair, the Louisiana Purchase, the Embargo and the War of 1812. How successful were Jefferson and his followers in accomplishing their goals for the nation through foreign policy?

Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the United States was to reduce the national debt, eliminate internal taxes and to reduce the standing army but build a better navy. Jefferson’s plan did not go as such due to the foreign affairs. The first issue that impacted Jefferson’s party was the XYZ affair in 1798 because it led to a quasi-war between the United States and France. The Americans went to France to negotiate problems with France but instead nothing was settled which led to the quasi-war. The second issue that impacted his party was the purchase of Louisiana from France in 1803. It cost the Americans $15 million at the time for 827,000 square miles. The third issue was the Embargo created by Jefferson in 1807. The embargo was referred to as a “peaceable coercion” was to stop all exports of American goods. Jefferson reasoned that both Britain and France relied heavily on American products and would be forced to work with the United States. Jefferson’s embargo was repealed by President James Madison. Lastly, the War of 1812 was a major issue that impacted Jefferson’s party. The main causes of the war included British attempts to restrict U.S. trade, the Royal Navy’s impressment of American seamen and America’s wish to expand its territory. The United States suffered many costly defeats at the hands of British troops over the course of the War of 1812, including the capture and burning of the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., in August 1814. Nonetheless, American troops were...