Jefferson wanted a smaller centralized government that respected the authority of individual state governments. So he cut the amount of federal employees subject to presidential appointment.

This was a part of the revolution of 1800, in which the power of the United States government changed from the Federalists to the Democratic-Republicans, and from the north to the south.

Cuts were made in both the army and navy. Jefferson believed that the United States would be better off if each state had its own militia, instead of one collective military.

These military cuts lead to a very weak United states military that wasn't respected internationally. This lead to the impressment of U.S. ships by Great Britain and France with little to no defense

Jefferson pushed for Congress to abolish the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts were put into place by President John Adams before leaving office to keep the federalist party ahead.

The abolishment of these acts led to the strengthening of the Democratic-Republicans and the decline of the Federalists (revolution of 1800).

The United States paid the Barbary states to keep them away from U.S. merchant ships, but in 1801, they raised their demands. Jefferson sent warships and blockaded the Barbary states and refused to pay the raised price. It ended with an agreement to make one last payment.

This event made Jefferson rethink the cuts he had imposed on the military so that he would not make further cuts, as he had planned.

Jefferson bought the land to the west of the Mississippi from Napoleon, doubling the size of the nation. The power to buy land was not stated in the Constitution, so Jefferson had to demonstrate loose constructionist ways.

The increase in land also brought an increase in power because of the wealth that the United States would receive. It also instilled the idea of manifest destiny into the American people, pushing for further westward expansion.

Both France and England continued to impress United States merchant vessels, eventually resorting to the British opening fire upon an American ship.

These events led to the Embargo Act, which was repealed and replaced  with the Non- Intercourse Act, which cut off trade between the U.S. and Britain and France. The events angered citizens so much that it was a driving factor of the War of 1812 between the U.S. and Britain.