The vote that made Jefferson President: February 17th, 1801. The House is deadlocked on a vote to decide the 3rd President of the United States because of the vagueness of the Constitution and the role of the electoral college. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, refuse to vote in favor of Thomas Jefferson who received a majority of the vote. Instead they will vote for Federalist Aaron Burr. Representative James Bayard confers with Jefferson and ultimately casts the historical deciding vote.

The Louisiana Purchase: Apritl 12th, 1803. The port of New Orleans has been closed to planters, denying them the ability to sell their produce. United States negotiations with France for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory for the past two years have been unsuccessful. With tensions at a boiling point, President Jefferson sends James Monroe to Paris to negotiate with Ambassador Livingston and Barbe Marbois.