Examining Thomas Jefferson's Foreign Policy Record

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Thomas Jefferson: Served as President from 1801-1809

Personal Characteristics: 

Description by Author: In discussing those who took the presidential office prior to him, Jefferson was described here as “shy, retiring, and with a slight speech defect–did not impress observers as being prepared to ride in the whirlwind and direct the storm.” He was also seen as more of a down-to-earth person than the likes of Alexander Hamilton or John Adams, which, in Adams’ opinion, made him likely to be a symbol of democracy. 

Personal Convictions: A quote by Jefferson himself helps to shed light on his personal outlook on life. Jefferson said that “Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty.” This quote highlights his rebellious tendency towards European traditions that led him to becoming a Founding Father.

Jefferson’s Pragmatism: Furthering his outlook on Europe, take into account his discussion of the possible impacts of the Non-Importation Act of 1806 towards European powers that was passed during his presidency. Jefferson said: “Let us see whether having taught so many other useful lessons to Europe, we may not add that of showing them that there are peaceable means of repressing injustice, by making it to the interest of the aggressor to do what is just.” 

The International Context: 

Spanish-French conflict: This was prior to Jefferson’s presidency, but one he dealt with directly in the citizen Genet affair. This event revolved around the first diplomat to the U.S. of the French after its revolution. Genet came in with an aggressive mindset towards President Washington and Thomas Jefferson, in which he wanted loan repayments for the Revolutionary War, along with the ability to use the U.S. as a staging ground for an attack on Spanish Florida. 

U.S. Naval War with France: This mainly occurred during John Adam’s Presidency, but did have a direct effect on the election that Jefferson won, along with the impacts that the incoming treaty would have with further relations.

Barbary Pirates: Conflicts with Muslim states in which some Americans were held hostage had an impact on Jefferson's Administration.

War with Soltan of Tripoli: As a result of unmet demands by the U.S. from the Soltan, naval war occurred for 4 years during Jefferson’s Administration.

Napoleon’s Desires: Napoleon attempted to reinstate slavery on Hispaniola, which failed horribly, partially resulting in the acquisition of the Louisiana territory by the United States, making this event a crucial one to follow.

Key Foreign Policies: 

The Louisiana Purchase: A key diplomatic endeavor that occurred during Jefferson’s Administration was the deal with the French to acquire the Louisiana territory, one in which Napoleon was eager to rid himself of based on his aforementioned past colonial failures. 

Neutrality Proclamations: As was mentioned about the citizen Genet affair, Jefferson’s assertion of neutrality toward European powers during his time as Secretary of State set the stage for U.S. foreign relations during the era.

Treaty with Tripoli: This treaty is one that John Adams was unable to secure during his time in office. Jefferson’s decision to fight the barbary states rather than paying tributes turned out to be a key foreign policy of his during his time in office. 

Positive Achievements: 

Luck: Jefferson’s luck regarding timing during his presidency is notable, but went positively in his favor, for the most part. The timing to basically have the Louisiana territory fall in his lap following French colonial failure, conflict in Europe that took attention away from the United States, not becoming too close with any one power, all contributed in a positive manner towards his Administration. 

Treaty with Tripoli: This Treaty had nothing to do with timing. Jefferson’s foreign policy experience allowed him to understand the necessity of conflict with barbary states in order to cut off raids of U.S. ships. This achievement also goes positively in his favor. 

The Louisiana Purchase: Regardless of timing, the achievement of gaining the Louisiana territory killed two birds with one stone. First, it allowed for Jefferson to mostly end the issue of New Orleans with the U.S. economy. Secondly, it allowed for the United States to further the concept of manifest destiny, which many politicians and citizens had been waiting for.  

The Citizen Genet Affair: Prior to his presidency, when Jefferson was serving in the Washington Administration, his savviness in the affair with citizen Genet of France established the neutrality of the U.S. in a clear-cut fashion. His use of the Treaty of Alliance of 1778 between the U.S. and French allowed for him to use Genet’s aggression against him. The U.S. did not explicitly grant the right for France to use U.S. ports, it only allowed them to deny any French enemies from using aid ports, cementing its neutrality on a global scale. 

Negative Drawbacks: 

Trade policy: During the Napoleonic Wars, Jefferson made a calculated risk by enacting an embargo on American shipping (Embargo Act of 1807), which failed unequivocally and hindered that country’s economy going forward, especially since the model to bolster the U.S. economy revolved around trade. 

Spending Cuts: Even though Jefferson did cut the national debt by a third, his policies to “slash naval expenses by investing in cut-rate gunboats rather than in expensive frigates” hindered his perception towards many Americans. These military cuts would prove to be irresponsible by the time the War of 1812 began, a conflict in which the U.S. was massively out-manned and gunned by the British. 

Failed Trade Relations Prior to Presidency: While not necessarily a drawback, it is one shared by Adams, Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who attempted to increase trade relations with Europe in the mid-1780s. Their attempted liberalization of global trade mostly failed, which created anti-trade sentiments at the time between Adams and Jefferson. 

Final Grade: B/ While there are some major drawbacks regarding Jefferson’s foreign policy initiatives, there appears to be more positive than negative events during his time serving in the government. His ability to ensure neutrality as Secretary of State, to purchase the Louisiana territory, to enact a Treaty with Tripoli, all contribute to his grade. However, the Embargo Act of 1807 and his spending cuts are truly baffling, considering the context. Yes, keeping the U.S. out of the Napoleonic Wars was wise, but the debilitating effects on U.S. trade proved costly. Furthermore, his defense spending cuts also ensured that the U.S. would be ill-prepared during the War of 1812, a conflict in which could have ended the American experiment. In short, Jefferson proved to be a capable leader, yet at times erred in his judgment. 

References:

1. Milton Cantor, “The Cession of Louisiana,” Documents of American History, 10th ed., ed. Henry Steele Commager (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988).. 
2. Norman A. Graebner, “Thomas Jefferson, Republican Values, Foreign Commerce,” Traditions and Values: American Diplomacy 1790-1865, vol. 7, ed. (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002).
3. Scott Shapiro & Oona Hathaway, “Citizen Genet Goes to Washington,” The Internationalists: How a Radical Plan to Outlaw War Remade the World (New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2018). 
4.  “Thomas Jefferson.” The White House. The United States Government, December 23, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/thomas-jefferson/.