The establishment of frugality in the government proved to be successful as the president was able to reduce the debt to fifty-seven million dollars by the end of his second term (Meacham 387). Another difficulty was the Federalist influence in the government. On his last day serving as president, John Adams appointed over forty-two judges; their letters signed but not all delivered. Since at the time judges served for an unlimited term, the appointments signified that the Federalist could have more power in the judicial branch. The judges, led by William Marbury, appealed to the Supreme Court to obtain their commissions; however, the Court’s decision did not force Jefferson to grant …show more content…
As written on the Constitution, the president preferred to remain neutral in the war between Great Britain and France. On the contrary, both nations wanted the United States to take a side. Britain detested the French receiving American supplies as well, so they executed a naval blockade to stop American merchant ships from reaching the European coast (AMH 261). President Jefferson strategized the Embargo Act of 1807 to make both powers recognize the United States’ neutrality (Gilje 1). The plan was a complete failure since the American economy depended on foreign trade. Port cites were abandoned, sailors begged for work, and farmers declared bankruptcy as crop prices plummeted (Gilje 2). Even though he assumed the trade prohibition would only affect the European nations, Jefferson underestimated the people’s dependence on trade which he recognized when the Congress repealed the embargo (AMH