7 Chapter 6 Our Third President

Chapter 6 Our Third President The Presidential election of 1800 was bitterly fought. Adams and Jefferson had become enemies. Aaron Burr also sought the Presidency and made backroom deals trying to win. In the end, Thomas Jefferson won, and Aaron Burr was elected Vice President. Jefferson took office on March 4, 1801. He was the first President inaugurated in Washington, D.C., which had become the nation's permanent capital in 1800. He had been living at a boarding house in Washington. Many people thought he would wear fancy clothes and go by carriage to his inauguration. But on the day he took office, Jefferson dressed plainly. He walked the two

blocks from his rooms to the U.S. Capitol building. There he was sworn in as President. Jefferson gave a fine speech. A thousand people packed the hall to hear it. Put aside your political differences, the new President told Americans. "We are all Republicans—we are all Federalists." Jefferson also stated his goal: "Peace … and an honest friendship with all nations." The problem

was, only the people in the first few rows heard him. He was still a terrible speaker. Besides, he was very nervous. He spoke so quietly, many listeners had to read the speech in the newspapers the next day. The new President moved into the White House, which wasn't yet completed. Jefferson turned out to be an outstanding national leader. He had long wanted the nation to expand westward. In 1803, he helped make the greatest land deal in U.S. history. For $15 million, the nation bought 828,000 square miles of land from France in what is now the central United States. Called the Louisiana Purchase, this deal doubled the country's size. Later, all or part of fifteen states were carved from the region. Jefferson was curious about lands beyond the Louisiana Purchase as well. In 1804, he sent out a group of explorers led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They traveled from near St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Northwest. On their journey they learned about western lands and Indians. The Lewis and Clark Expedition helped the U.S. claim more land. Later, it became three states: Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.

THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT THE AMERICAN WEST. AS PRESIDENT, HE COMMISSIONED AN EXPEDITION TO EXPLORE AND MAP THE TERRITORY.

IN MAY 1804, CO-CAPTAINS MERIWETHER LEWIS AND WILLIAM CLARK SET OUT FROM NEAR ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. TRAVELING BY RIVER AND LAND, THEY JOURNEYED TO THE OREGON COAST AND BACK AGAIN—A DISTANCE OF MORE THAN 8,000 MILES. THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A CREW OF MEN AND THE SHOSHONE INDIAN INTERPRETER SACAGAWEA. IT TOOK THE EXPLORERS TWO YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE THEIR JOURNEY.

Jefferson brought a new style to the Presidency. Washington and Adams had been formal and dignified. Jefferson was relaxed and friendly. The President rode his horse around Washington, often speaking to strangers. He opened the White House to everyone. "He was dressed with an old brown coat, woolen hose, slippers without heels," wrote one visitor from New Hampshire. "I thought this man was a servant. It was the President." Jefferson's pet mockingbird also surprised visitors. Dick liked to fly about the White House, sometimes landing on Jefferson's shoulder.