Thomas Jefferson was the first president from an opposing party to occupy the White House. Adams and Jefferson were adversaries since the days of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Right before Adams left the presidency he made midnight appointments. Meaning that he appointed people from his own party, the Federalists, which would continue to work and function in government, even though an opposing party was now in power in the White House.

T.J. was understandably upset at these appointments. He set out to oppose as many appointments as he could, to force some appointees to resign, and to make life a living hell to the rest. He succeeded in this. By the beginning of his second term in 1805, most of appointees were by then Democratic-Republicans, the party of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson also pardoned those convicted under the Aliens and Sedition Act, and now with a Democratic-Republican controlled congress, they set out to repeal the Act.

One of the most important cases concerning the midnight appointments was Marbury v. Madison. Marbury, one of the last judicial appointees, sued Secretary of State James Madison for not certifying, thus not allowing him to sit on the federal bench. This decision is important because even though the Chief Justice, John Marshall, was a Federalist, and thus would agree with Marbury, he decided that the court could not make Jefferson (via Madison) appoint Marbury. This established an important precedence known in American Jurisprudence as Judicial Review. That is that the court had the right, nay the responsibility, to review the constitutionality of Acts of Congress.

The major accomplishment of Thomas Jefferson was the Louisiana Purchase. The Louisiana Purchase was a win-win situation for all parties involved. The United States began to worry when New Orleans was transferred to the hands of France in 1802 (Well not transferred but given forcefully to France from Spain since at the time France had invaded Spain). The situation is Continental Europe was perilous, since France and Britain were at war, and the United States, even though Neutral, was seen as a British sympathizer during this conflict. Once the French got New Orleans, the United States knew that that was a threat to American trade along the Mississippi River since the French would prevent trade. To resolve this Jefferson sent Monroe to France with an offer to buy the city of New Orleans for $2 Million. At the time that Monroe arrived, Napoleon had decided to remove all interests he had in territories in the Americas. The French offered to sell to the United States the whole Louisiana Territory for $15 Million. By this Jefferson single-handedly doubled the size of the United States. He even had to put his ideologies aside in order to take advantage of this greatest of bargains in History. To begin with the question arose over the constitutionality of the President making this purchase. Jefferson even though he was a strict constructionist, went to Congress and Congress allowed the President to make the purchase, thus setting an important precedent in presidential power. From strict constructionist, to loose interpreter. He also made the biggest federalist action in history at the time, even though Jefferson, ideologically was an anti-federalist.

Jefferson sent two explorers, Lewis and Clark, to chart the new western territories that the United States now had. The Lewis and Clark expedition is seen by many historians as the beginning of the Great Western Migration.

In 1804 Jefferson was up for re-election and he won it in a landslide. His former vice-presidential running mate, Aaron Burr ran for Governor of New York. Alexander Hamilton who had organized the resistance against Burr in the 1800 election, campaigned against Burr and campaigned for a Democratic-Republican, even though he was a Federalist! When Burr lost the Governorship he said that Hamilton was the cause of the death of his political career and then challenged Hamilton to a duel. Hamilton when it was his turn to shoot, shot into the air, Burr on the other hand shot straight at Hamilton. Hamilton died. After that, Burr was a much detested man. He fled to the Southwest, where it was rumored that he was plotting a coup d' etat against the United States, and planned to set up a new nation in the Louisiana Territory, with him as King. He was captured, and was tried for treason, but he was found not-guilty for lack of evidence. Thus ended the chapter of Burr, one of the most ambiguous and eccentric figures in American History.

Events during Jefferson's Second Term led to the War of 1812.

During the second term, France and Britain were still at war, and they soon began blockading each other's maritime trade routes. The United States economy suffered greatly by blockades done on both sides. In addition to blocking trade, the British Royal Navy began impressing, meaning boarding ships and getting sailors who might have deserted the Royal Navy.

This led to an increase of tension between the United States and Great Britain. It got worst when the British started to attack American ships in American sovereign waters. Jefferson responded by boycotting British goods, while using the time to increase military and naval reserves. Yet the boycott wasn't as effective since both the Brits and French continued to disrespect American ships. Jefferson then called and passed the Embargo Act of 1807, which basically shut down American imports and exports, causing a perilous economic situation. As the economy collapsed - most hurt was the merchant center in New England - smuggling began more extensive. Jefferson repealed the Embargo Act in his final days as president.

Jefferson followed Washington's footsteps and opted not to run for a third term. The one chosen to succeed him was James Madison.

Madison relented and opened up trade with France and Britain. However he warned that the country that continued to disrespect American sovereignty would be subject to an economic embargo from the United States, and that country which kept its promise not to interfere with American sovereignty, would thus become an ally to the United States, and prompt the United States to cut links with the other country. Napoleon didn't mess with the United States, and thus, the U.S. closed links with Britain, but once this happened, Napoleon then continued to disrespect the United States. The Brits, angry at the embargo, continued to Harass American ships now with more force than usual, the situation got worse. Pro-War airs were stirring around the country. From the south, War Hawks, new congressional delegates called for war against Britain, it's leaders were John C. Calhoun, and Henry Clay.

The War of 1812: During the war, Native Americans sided with the British. The Native American chief, Tecumseh, unified tribes throughout his area to oppose Americans, and his brother, "the Prophet" led a revival of their culture and religion. Tecumseh died in battle, and his efforts died with him. The military of the United States was no much for the British Military, which was the most powerful military authority in the world, at the time. In 1814, the Brits captured Washington, D.C. and burned the White House. However, most battles ended in a stalemate. When the British war for Napoleon ended in 1815, the Brits began to negotiate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Treaty of Ghent ended the war, nobody won anything, nobody lost anything.

Hartford Convention: during the war, Federalists which were opposed to it since it hurt the merchant economy of the Northeast, considered to change the Constitution, even considered secession from the Union. When the war ended many considered the Federalists as traitors, and then that led for the party to dissolve.

The war led for an increase in the manufacturing of American industry. The states learned how to become more self-dependent, and began to rely less on imports from other states.

The National Road from Maryland to Ohio was built, and the National Bank was renewed. Henry Clay was a pivotal figure in this self-dependence trend and thus this is known as his "American System."

The Era of Good Feelings: This was an era in which there was no partisan fighting between people since only one party existed. On a personal level, one can say that the Era of Good Feelings reconciled old enemies. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams once again talked to each other, they even became friends. They were so close that both died on the same day, July 4th, 1826, the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. During this era, rulings of the Supreme Court continued to strengthen the federal government (See Supreme Court Cases).

The Panic of 1819: After a period of growth, inflation, and speculation, the United States once again entered a perilous economic situation. This is one of the major trends in American History. After these three factors are present in the economic landscape, depression or recession was soon to follow. Many people lost their property and their businesses. Many then lived at poverty levels. Even though the United States was in a bad economic situation, James Monroe won re-election.

In other news... Secretary of State John Quincy Adams (the son of the 2nd President, John Adams) negotiated numerous treaties for a better understanding of the borders. He also acquired Florida from Spain, in the Onís-Adams Treaty.

Monroe Doctrine: It told European powers to not meddle in affair in the Americas, and in return the United States would not meddle with European affairs, thus the United States would serve as the "protector" of Central and South America. No European nation challenged the Monroe Doctrine.

This new period of expansion raised the question over slavery. Every period of expansion would raise the question over slavery until 1860, when the question was finally answered. In the year, 1820, the United States had 22 states, 11 were free states, 11 were slave states. Missouri wanted to become a state, but with the entrance of Missouri, that would upset the balance between free and slave. Thus the Missouri Compromise came about. In it, it I) Admitted Missouri as slave state II) Created Maine, and made that a free slave III) Said that the southern border of Missouri would be the northernmost point in which slavery would be allowed, allowing for the remainder of the Unorganized Louisiana Territory to become free states, once they applied for statehood, and opened the door for the Arkansas territory, and for Florida to become slave states.

The compromise tried to prevent the Civil War from ever occurring, and politically, it divided the Democratic-Republicans, thus the Era of Good Feelings was over.