bbri38559_ch07_184-217.inddri38559_ch07_184-217.indd PPageage 118484 110/15/080/15/08 111:22:331:22:33 AAMM uuserser //Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07 Chapter 7 THE JEFFERSONIAN ERA THE BURNING OF WASHINGTON This dramatic engraving somewhat exaggerates the extent of the blazes in Washington when the British occupied the city in August 1814. But the invaders did set fi re to the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings in retaliation for the American burning of the Canadian capital at York. ( The Granger Collection, New York) bbri38559_ch07_184-217.inddri38559_ch07_184-217.indd PPageage 118585 99/12/08/12/08 22:33:46:33:46 PPMM uuser-s180ser-s180 //Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07 HOMAS JEFFERSON AND HIS FOLLOWERS assumed control of the national SIGNIFICANT EVENTS government in 1801 as the champions of a distinctive vision of America. 1769 ◗ James Watt patents steam engine They envisioned a society of sturdy, independent farmers, happily free from 1778 ◗ Phillips Academy founded in Andover, Massachusetts 1779 ◗ Universalist Church founded the workshops, the industrial towns, and the city mobs of Europe. They 1781 ◗ Phillips Exeter Academy founded in New Hampshire favored a system of universal education that would 1782 ◗ Unitarian Church founded in Boston T The Jeffersonian Vision 1784 ◗ Judith Sargent Murray publishes essay on rights of introduce all Americans to the scientifi c rationalism of women the Enlightenment. They promoted a cultural outlook that emphasized localism ◗ Methodist Church formally established ◗ and republican simplicity. And they proposed a federal government of sharply 1789 Massachusetts public schools admit female students 1790 ◗ Samuel Slater builds textile mill, fi rst modern limited power, with most authority remaining at the level of the states. factory in America, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island 1792 ◗ Toll road constructed from Philadelphia to Lancaster Almost nothing worked out as they planned, for during their years in power the 1793 ◗ Eli Whitney invents cotton gin young republic was developing in ways that made much of their vision obsolete. 1794–1796 ◗ Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason published The American economy in the period of Republican ascendancy became steadily 1800 ◗ United States capital moves to Washington, D.C. ◗ more diversifi ed and complex. Growing cities, surging commerce, and expanding Gabriel Prosser’s plans for slave rebellion foiled 1801 ◗ Second Great Awakening begins industrialism made the ideal of a simple, agrarian society impossible to maintain. ◗ John Marshall appointed chief justice The quest for universal education fl oundered, and the nation’s institutions of 1801–1805 ◗ Confl ict with Tripoli 1802 ◗ Jefferson abolishes all internal federal taxes learning remained largely the preserve of privileged elites. American cultural life, ◗ United States Military Academy founded at West far from refl ecting localism and simplicity, refl ected a vigorous and ambitious Point 1803 ◗ Napoleonic Wars escalate in Europe nationalism reminiscent of (and often encouraged by) the Federalists. And although ◗ Louisiana Territory purchased from French American religion began, as the Jeffersonians had hoped, to confront and adjust ◗ Supreme Court establishes power of judicial to the spread of Enlightenment rationalism, the new skepticism did not survive review in Marbury v. Madison 1804 ◗ Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in duel unchallenged. A great wave of revivalism, beginning early in the century, ultimately ◗ Thomas Jefferson reelected president almost submerged the new rational philosophy. 1804–1806 ◗ Lewis and Clark, and Zebulon Pike, explore Louisiana Territory The Republicans did manage to translate some of their political ideals into 1805 ◗ British defeat French at Trafalgar reality. Jefferson dismantled much of the bureaucratic power structure that the 1806 ◗ Burr charged with conspiracy 1806–1807 ◗ Napoleon issues Berlin and Milan decrees Federalists had erected in the 1790s, and he helped ensure that in many respects 1807 ◗ Fulton and Livingston launch the fi rst steamboat the federal government would remain a relatively unimportant force in American ◗ Burr tried and acquitted for conspiracy life. Yet he also frequently encountered situations that required him to exercise ◗ Chesapeake-Leopard incident with Great Britain ◗ Embargo begins strong national authority. On occasion, he used his power more forcefully and 1808 ◗ Economy plunges into depression arbitrarily than his Federalist predecessors had used theirs. ◗ Madison elected president 1809 ◗ Embargo Act repealed The Republicans did not always like these nationalizing and modernizing ◗ Non-Intercourse Act passed trends, and on occasion they resisted them. For the most part, however, they ◗ Tecumseh establishes tribal confederacy had the sense to recognize what they could not change. In adjusting to the new 1810 ◗ Macon’s Bill No. 2 reopens trade with Britain and France realities, they began to become agents of the very transformation of American life ◗ United States annexes West Florida they had once resisted. 1811 ◗ Harrison is victorious in Battle of Tippecanoe 1812 ◗ United States declares war on Great Britain (June 18) ◗ Madison reelected president ◗ Louisiana admitted to Union as a state 1813 ◗ British erect naval blockade ◗ American forces burn York (Toronto), Canadian capital ◗ Perry defeats British fl eet at Put-In Bay on Lake Erie ◗ Harrison defeats British and Tecumseh 1814 ◗ Jackson, at Battle of Horseshoe Bend, slaughters Creek Indians ◗ British troops capture and burn Washington ◗ Francis Scott Key writes “The Star-Spangled Banner” ◗ Americans win Battle of Plattsburgh ◗ Hartford Convention meets ◗ Treaty of Ghent signed 1815 ◗ Jackson wins Battle of New Orleans ◗ Naval war fought with Algiers 1828 ◗ Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language published 185 bbri38559_ch07_184-217.inddri38559_ch07_184-217.indd PPageage 118686 99/12/08/12/08 22:33:47:33:47 PPMM uuser-s180ser-s180 //Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07Volumes/203/MHSF070/mhbri13%0/bri13ch07 186 CHAPTER SEVEN THE RISE OF CULTURAL schools. In New England and elsewhere, private acade- NATIONALISM mies were usually more secular, many of them modeled on schools founded by the Phil- Private Schooling In many respects, American cultural life in the early nine- lips family at Andover, Massachu- teenth century seemed to refl ect the Republican vision of setts, in 1778, and at Exeter, New Hampshire, three years the nation’s future. Opportunities for education increased; later. By 1815, there were thirty such private secondary the nation’s literary and artistic life began to free itself schools in Massachusetts, thirty-seven in New York, and from European infl uences; and American religion began several dozen more scattered throughout the country. to confront and adjust to the spread of Enlightenment Many were frankly aristocratic in outlook, training their rationalism. In other respects, however, the new culture students to become members of the nation’s elite. There was posing a serious challenge to Republican ideals. were a few schools open to the poor offering education that was clearly inferior to that provided at exclusive schools. Patterns of Education Private secondary schools such as those in New En- Central to the Republican vision of America was the con- gland, and even many public schools, accepted only male cept of a virtuous and enlightened citizenry. Jefferson students. Yet the early nineteenth century did see some himself called emphatically for a national “crusade against important advances in female education. ignorance.” Republicans believed, In the eighteenth century, women had received very Importance of a therefore, in the establishment of little education of any kind, and the female illiteracy rate Virtuous Citizenry a nationwide system of public at the time of the Revolution was very high—at least 50 schools to create the educated electorate they believed a percent. At the same time, how- republic required. All male citizens (the nation’s prospec- ever, Americans had begun to New Educational Opportunities for tive voters) should, they argued, receive free education. place a new value on the contri- Women Some states endorsed the principle of public educa- bution of the “republican mother” tion for all in the early years of the republic, but none to the training of the new generation. That raised an actually created a working system of free schools. A Mas- important question: If mothers remained ignorant, how sachusetts law of 1789 reaffi rmed the colonial laws by could they raise their children to be enlightened? Begin- which each town was obligated to support a school, but ning as early as the 1770s and accelerating thereafter, such there was little enforcement. In Virginia, the state legisla- concerns led to the creation of a network of female acad- ture ignored Jefferson’s call for universal elementary edu- emies throughout the nation (usually for the daughters of cation and for advanced education for the gifted. As late as affl uent families). In 1789, Massachusetts required that its 1815, not a single state had a comprehensive public public schools serve females as well as males. Other states, school system. although not all, soon followed. Instead, schooling became primarily the responsibility Most men, at least, assumed that female education of private institutions, most of which were open only to should serve only