Week 13 - Jefferson, Slavery, and The West PDF

WEEK 13- JEFFERSON, SLAVERY, AND THE WEST Jefferson and the Emerging Opposition to Hamilton’s Federalists The opposition to Hamilton are the inheritors of the Anti-Federalist tradition Opposition come from farmers, South and West Objections to tariff Cost paid by consumers; benefit to manufactu...

WEEK 13- JEFFERSON, SLAVERY, AND THE WEST Jefferson and the Emerging Opposition to Hamilton’s Federalists The opposition to Hamilton are the inheritors of the Anti-Federalist tradition Opposition come from farmers, South and West Objections to tariff Cost paid by consumers; benefit to manufacturers Cost paid by farmers; benefit to urban areas Objections to bank Public money (taxes and tariffs) yields private profit The Bank helps develop an urban merchant class. Jeffersonians fear aristocracy Objections to bond repayment Benefit to bond buyers/speculators, largely in commercial centers Benefits the people that are already wealthy Moral critique: it’s corruption - rewards speculators, inside operators, instead of hard- working farmers. Virtuous people are left out of these benefits. Jefferson's Agrarian Republic Based on a egalitarian vision: a republic of roughly equal citizens. A republic can only survive if the citizens are roughly equal, a place where people can still fill with civic virtue. A republic cannot last if there are few people who are wealthy but lead the many, the poor. Resulting in an aristocracy.  Centered on land and agriculture, in particular the economic independence of the yeoman farmer. (Someone who owns their own farm/business, they work for no one else. They are economically independent, obedient to no one but themselves). This ideal republic was not yet found in the U.S. Jefferson is wary of the emerging Federalist order in the North of cities, finance, and manufacturing. (Rich few, poor many but produces an economic inequality) The plantation South has problems too. Jefferson is ambivalent about slavery: it was a central part of American agriculture, but neither masters nor slaves are the ideal yeoman of the republic. (They're tyrants, they gain authority from violence. They are not fit to follow the republican values of rough equality between Americans). Does not see a future of America with slavery. Jefferson and (White) Equality The heart of the vision: equality was essential for republican government. Vast inequality, as in Europe, would mean: ◦ A wealthy few, keen to capture government and become an aristocracy ◦ A necessitous many, motivated by immediate need and prone to appeal by corrupt populists Equality required widespread availability of land ◦ Jefferson pushed for measures to guarantee 50 acres ◦ Make it easier to buy land in the west ◦ Laws to break up large estates (suspicious of inherited wealth and old position aristocracy) Jefferson and Opportunity Education was also essential for opportunity Free elementary education; best students get state-supported secondary education. Necessary for the people to be their own “judges” and “guardians” of their liberty Very top students go to state-supported college Aim for leaders in the republic Aim is to encourage a “natural,” not an “artificial” aristocracy. Talent, not birth, should rule. Talented but poor people to rise to the top. Jefferson thinks the Federalist program will enable the rich to dominate both the economy and the government. Instead, it should be the role of government to ensure opportunity, so that common folk could rise to the top. -Might be what Jefferson is talking about when he mentions "The pursuit of happiness." Jefferson Ideals in Practice The Northwest Ordinance (1787) Lays out Jefferson’s vision for an expanding “Empire of Liberty” Land is sold in small parcels. Available to people of modest means, not just large speculators. Territories would become their own equal states. Land is reserved to fund public education- Land gets auctioned off by government to pay for public education Slavery prohibited North of Ohio River- ◦ Opposed because it forecloses opportunities for white people. If land is filled with slave owners, regular farmers cannot compete. ◦ Disobeys the quality of his vision of rough equality amongst the WHITES. Wants land open to white settlers, not to large plantations with slave labor. The "Revolution of 1800" Election of 1800 Jefferson had been the leader of opposition to the Federalists, even as Vice President under the Federalist Adams. Opposed to Hamilton’s financial program Internal taxes the fell heavily on farmers (Whiskey tax production) Alien and Sedition Acts that allowed the President to prosecute critics in the press (Brings goverment into disrepute) and to expel immigrants deemed (by the President) a threat to the U.S. ◦ Create constitution crisis, gives vast new power to president. Violation of the constitution, freedom of speech. The Democratic-Republicans build a party and media machine. Mobilize voters. Politics was a continuous process of involvement Constitution has to be enforced by the people themselves The Federalists, who had spent the last decade in power and who were suspicious of popular politics, can’t keep up. As the Democratic Republicans saw it, the election represented a victory by “The people” over the “moneyed Aristocracy.” Interpreted by the people. Lasting impact of the election: Vindication of popular politics. The Federalist Party would collapse over the next decade.  Settles the constitution crisis over Sedition Act (Never enforced) Jefferson as President (1801-1809) Major Developments under Jefferson Alien and Sedition Acts die Leaves much of Hamilton’s system in place. Once the financial system has grown it is very difficult to uproot. Cuts military spending Pays off debt Repeals internal taxes (whiskey tax) Signs legislation ending import of enslaved people into the U.S. in 1808, the first year it is Constitutionally permissible. The internal slave trade continues growing. Louisiana Purchase (1803) Napoleon, looking to raise cash, offers to sell Louisiana Territory in 1803 Held by the french  The great value of the Mississippi River and New Orleans. The river system moves goods from the interior out into commerce. Easiest way to ship goods is through the Mississippi river through the port of New Orleans. French want to sell Louisiana purchase, but they want the money immediately. Toussaint L’Overture and the Haitian Revolution (1791 - 1804)  Puts an end to French territorial ambitions in North America Toussaint L'Overture leads slave uprising against the french, one of the most successful revolutions. Must compensate their old slave owners Napoleon needs money for European wars How would they be able to give money to the french without any capital/money? Land is essential for Jefferson’s egalitarian vision. But was the President authorized to make the purchase? In the 1790s, as leader of the opposition, Jefferson had criticized the Federalists’ expansive view of federal power. Constitution does not empower President to quickly buy Louisiana from the French Jefferson interprets his authority broadly and buys it anyway. His egalitarian vision of an agrarian empire is more important to him than a theory of Constitutional interpretation. Jefferson's Style  Both elite and democratic elements Pictures himself as a westerner. His style emphasize that his western society should be different than the North. Serve French wine and Informal old leather slippers & clothing Jefferson's Monticello Facing West French architecture  Entrance hall: showcasing the Western U.S. Showcases false modesty- Designed to look less big, displaying himself as a "common man." 4 stories  False modesty “common man” appearance of dining service Put on dinner services to emphasize that U.S. was a more democratic society instead of an aristocracy. Benefits of slavery in Monticello, but not visible to others. Slaves are hidden behind the wall Creates a type of "dumb waiter system." Slavery at Monticello Jefferson imagines a U.S. (but not a Monticello) without slavery With tobacco production on the decline (and before a boom in cotton) it appears that slavery might decline as well. Jefferson imagines a gradual decline over generations, with the spread of slavery limited while the practice died out in the original Southern states as it became economically infeasible. An idea that their could be no slavery but without any troubles with slave owners since they would want to get rid of them because of the decline. Jefferson envisions himself as a slavery reformer; a better sort of master Monticello grows wheat, which has less intense labor demands (done by free people elsewhere) Emphasizes skilled labor and small shop production (nail shop) for black people once they are emancipated. Wants to showcase a system of “rational and humane management”-Masters can become less of tyrants and slaves become less abused Less violent, but this is not the case under other managers while Jefferson is in DC Sally Hemmings was one of the enslaved black women at Jeffersons plantations. Half child of John Wayles. Jefferson and Sally Hemings Sally Hemings arrives in Paris in 1787 ◦ At some point (likely in Paris), Jefferson initiates a sexual relationship with Hemings. ◦ Sally Hemings will end up having 6 children with Jefferson, two die in infancy Claim of relationship was a political scandal in Jefferson’s time ◦ Historians long doubted it, and discounted the claims of Heming’s Black descendants. ◦ DNA proof in 1990s Controversial because Jefferson was basically the same as the tyrant that he was literally criticising. Hypocritical Motherfucker. Raises a historical and social question: How to characterize this relationship? Can there be consent? Obviously not. Age, enslavement. But don’t erase Sally Hemings from the story. The Hemings Jefferson and Sally Hemings in Paris (1787 – 1789) - Slavery is illegal in Paris, many free black people. ◦ “Extraordinary privileges” ◦ Sally and her brother make a deal, for extraordinary privileges, children that she had with him would be free once they reach the majority, and if he dies they will gain all of their freedom. Return to Monticello Children educated as skilled laborers Surviving children ◦ Beverly (son, leaves early 1820s, lives as white). ◦ Harriet (daughter, leaves early 1820s, lives as white) ◦ Madison (son, freed by will 1826, lives as free Black in Virginia)- Descendant continue to insist that they are the black descendant. BLACK POWER BITCHES ◦ Eston (son, freed by will 1826, lives as white)- Son Fights for North in the civil war. Jefferson’s “anti-slavery” Anti-slavery thinking Hope that slavery would eventually die out. Moral and republican sentiments against slavery. NOT emancipation; always privilege property rights of slave owners Small anti-slavery actions Ends importation of slaves in 1807 Colonization is the main form of white anti-slavery thinking before 1830 American Colonization Society (founded 1816) Mostly supported by people from upper South, many of them slave owners Bought land in Africa, establish Liberia in 1817 Openly anti-Black. Argument is that slavery is bad for the republic, and need to remove Black people from United States. Failure. Simply too much slavery. Black opposition Westward Expansion: The Cotton Kingdom Cotton becomes the major crop of the South in the 1800s. Driven by invention of cotton gin. By 1840, U.S. South produces 60% global cotton supply. Two-thirds of all U.S. exports. Westward Expansion: The Domestic Slave Trade Between 1810 and 1860, more than 1 million people sold through domestic slave trade. Larger than importation of enslaved people into U.S. from Africa and Caribbean Movement from areas where tobacco agriculture was fading to areas where cotton was booming. The fate of slavery at Monticello Jefferson dies in 1826. Jefferson dies in debt haha karma. Jefferson’s native hope that slavery might die out faces reality Most slaves sold to satisfy Jefferson’s large debts. But sally Hemmings family make it to freedom. Others are sold into the deep south. “we were scattered all over the country, never to meet each other again until we meet in another world.”