Tag Archives: Meriwether Lewis

3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

August 8, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Anthony Merry, Barbary States, David Erskine, Edward Preble, Francisco de Miranda, Gideon Granger, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, James Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton, Meriwether Lewis, New Orleans, Orleans Territory, Robert Smith, Samuel Smith, Samuel Swartwout, Spain, Stephen Decatur, Texas, Thomas Jefferson, William C C Claiborne, William Clark, William Eaton, William Smith, Zebulon Pikepresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1805-1806

With American and Spanish military forces amassing along the western US border and with the commanding general of the Army potentially involved in a secession and/or filibustering plot with the former Vice President, late 1806 was a time of trepidation for President Jefferson and his administration. Before long, though, a few hopeful prospects started to appear including the return of Jefferson’s protege turned continental explorer, Meriwether Lewis. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James Wilkinson” by Charles Willson Peale [c. 1797], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.29 – A Winter to Remember

May 2, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Albert Gallatin, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Latrobe, Burr Conspiracy, Charles Pinckney, Dolley Madison, East Florida, Edward Livingston, France, Great Britain, Indiana Territory, James Madison, James Monroe, James Wilkinson, John Breckinridge, Jonathan Dayton, Louisiana Territory, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Michigan Territory, New Orleans, Robert Smith, Spain, Talleyrand, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, West Florida, William Clark, William Henry Harrison, William Hullpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1804-1805

President Jefferson had much to celebrate in the latter half of 1805 as he finally secured a new Attorney General, envoys arrived from distant lands in the east and the west, and his daughter and her family joined him in the President’s House for the winter. Little did he know, though, that difficult negotiations in Madrid and the machinations of the former Vice President, Aaron Burr, would soon lead to difficulties for his administration. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Images: “Tchong-tas-sáb-bee, Black Dog, Second Chief” by George Catlin [c. 1834], courtesy of Wikipedia and “John Breckinridge” [c. 1891], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.235 – A Western Interlude

February 14, 202103 - Thomas JeffersonHenry Dearborn, Louisiana, Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jeffersonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1804-1805

With the Lewis and Clark expedition underway to explore the upper reaches of the Missouri River, President Jefferson at the end of his first term turned his attention to gathering support and talent for expeditions in the southern portions of the Louisiana Purchase. Meanwhile, the Corps of Discovery arranged for Jefferson to get a first-hand account of life west of the Mississippi River. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Carte Du Mexique et des Pays Limitrophes Situes Au Nord et a l’est Dressee d’apres la Grande Carte de la Nouvelle Espagne De Mr. A. De Humboldt” by Alexander von Humboldt [c. 1811], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.22 – A Death in the Family

September 13, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Caesar Rodney, France, Great Britain, Henry Addington, Henry Dearborn, James Madison, John Wayles Eppes, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Napoleon Bonaparte, Rufus King, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, Timothy Pickering, William Clark, William Pitt the Youngerpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1803-1804

While Vice President Burr worked to secure his political future in his bid for the New York governorship and New England Federalists plotted to separate from the Union, the Jefferson family suffered the untimely loss of one of its members in the early months of 1804. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, both the British and the French governments went through reorganizations that would impact their relations with the United States for years to come. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “US postage stamp commemorating Monticello, Issue of 1956, 20c” by US Post Office [1 Jan 1956], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.17 – Sailing in New Waters

May 24, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Anthony Merry, Barbary States, Edward Preble, Henry Dearborn, John Wayles Eppes, Lewis Harvie, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Robert Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, Tobias Lear, US Navy, William Clark, William Eatonpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1802-1803

Despite some early successes, the US naval efforts against Tripoli languished in 1802 and early 1803, and with the cost of maintaining a squadron in the Mediterranean climbing, President Jefferson and his administration had to consider alternates in both leadership and approaches to tackle the situation. Meanwhile, various young men in Jefferson’s life moved into new roles in 1803, and the President’s personal and political realms began to overlap in new ways. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Dutch Ships off Tripoli” by Reinier Nooms [c. mid 17th century], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.16 – Up River, Down River

April 26, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Benjamin Hawkins, Benjamin Rush, Georgia, Henry Dearborn, Indiana Territory, James Madison, Levi Lincoln, Louisiana, Meriwether Lewis, Mississippi Territory, Native Americans, New Orleans, slavery, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, William C C Claiborne, William Clark, William Henry Harrisonpresidencies

Content Note: This episode mentions the topic of suicide.

Year(s) Discussed: 1802-1803

As the Jefferson administration awaited word on the outcome of Monroe’s mission to France, the territorial governors and government agents in the western US dealt with various issues including labor shortages, troubled relations with neighboring indigenous nations, and the economic chaos caused by the port of New Orleans being closed to American shipping. To the east, the President and his Cabinet worked with Meriwether Lewis to prepare him for the planned transcontinental expedition as news came from across the Atlantic that would reshape the United States forever. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “William C. C. Claiborne, Governor of Louisiana” [c. early 19th century], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.13 – Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

February 23, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAlexander Hamilton, Benjamin Latrobe, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Charles Pinckney, East Florida, France, Great Britain, Henry Addington, James Madison, James Monroe, James Ross, John Breckinridge, Lewis Harvie, Louisiana, Meriwether Lewis, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, Rufus King, Spain, Talleyrand, Thomas Jefferson, US Supreme Court, West Florida, William Pitt the Youngerpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1803, 1807

As James Monroe began his special mission to Europe in early 1803, he would come to find that the situation on the continent was rapidly changing as the Peace of Amiens was proving to be a shaky one. Meanwhile, President Jefferson had to deal with some staffing changes at home and abroad. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Rufus King” by Charles Willson Peale [c. 1818], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.12 – And the Beat Goes On

February 8, 202003 - Thomas JeffersonAlbert Gallatin, Alexander Hamilton, Arthur St Clair, Charles Lee, France, George Rogers Clark, Great Britain, James Madison, James Ross, John Marshall, Levi Lincoln, Meriwether Lewis, Ohio, Samuel Chase, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, US Supreme Court, William Clark, William Marburypresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1803

As a new state joined the Union, state and federal leaders in the US worked to redefine the nation’s governmental institutions and its approach to foreign affairs. Jefferson put some plans into motion to stretch American influence through an expedition across western North America. Meanwhile, as Democratic-Republicans sought to wrest control of the judiciary from Federalists, the Supreme Court delivered a pivotal ruling. Source notes for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Charles Lee” by Cephas Giovanni Thompson [c. 19^th century], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.11 – Making Plans for Monroe

January 20, 2020UncategorizedCharles Pinckney, Dolley Madison, France, Haitian Revolution, Henri Christophe, James Madison, James Monroe, James Wilkinson, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, John Jay, John Randolph of Roanoke, John Wayles Eppes, Louisiana, Manuel de Godoy, Margaret Bayard Smith, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, Samuel Harrison Smith, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, Thomas McKean, Tobias Lear, William C C Claibornepresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1803

As continued resistance in Saint-Domingue threatens French First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte’s plans to take control of Louisiana, President Jefferson works to keep tempers cool on the domestic front while turning to a trusted ally, James Monroe, to find a permanent solution to the New Orleans situation. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Engraved BEP portrait of U.S. President James Monroe,” courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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3.10 – We Need to Talk

December 30, 201903 - Thomas JeffersonBarbary States, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Dolley Madison, East Florida, France, Haitian Revolution, Henri Christophe, James Madison, Louisiana, Martha Jefferson Randolph, Meriwether Lewis, Morocco, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, slavery, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mann Randolph, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Washington DC, West Floridapresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1801-1803

As French First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte begins to shift the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere in his favor, President Jefferson works to counter these ambitions through diplomatic efforts in both Washington and Paris. Meanwhile, a Mediterranean power declares war on the US, and Jefferson’s powers of persuasion are put to the test when dealing with family matters. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool” by Thomas Lawrence [c. 1790s], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Presidencies of the United States

A journey through presidential history from the beginning to the present day

Tag Archives: Meriwether Lewis

3.33 – Glimmers of Hope

3.29 – A Winter to Remember

3.235 – A Western Interlude

3.22 – A Death in the Family

3.17 – Sailing in New Waters

3.16 – Up River, Down River

3.13 – Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

3.12 – And the Beat Goes On

3.11 – Making Plans for Monroe

3.10 – We Need to Talk