Final answer:
During Jefferson's presidency, the U.S. underwent significant expansion through the Louisiana Purchase and integrated Native Americans into American society. His economic policies focused on promoting agrarian society, reducing federal government size, and lowering taxes, although he did engage in military action against the Barbary pirates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jefferson's Expansion and Economic Policies
Under Thomas Jefferson's presidency, the United States expanded in several notable ways. First and foremost, the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was a critical territorial expansion that more than doubled the size of the country. This acquisition from France provided the U.S. with vast new lands to explore and settle, and it also alleviated concerns about France's presence in North America. Jefferson also turned his attention to the Native Americans living in these territories, aiming to integrate them peacefully into American society, hoping that this would facilitate expansion as well.
Moreover, Jefferson's economic policies set the country on a different path from that of the Federalists. He promoted agriculture by selling western public lands in small and affordable lots to facilitate the growth of a nation of yeoman farmers. Jefferson believed in small government and was a staunch advocate for an agrarian society. His actions included lowering taxes, reducing the federal budget, and cutting military expenditures, notably scaling back the navy that had been built up by his predecessor. Despite his general aversion to military spending, Jefferson found himself engaging in military action against the Barbary pirates, highlighting the limits of his stance against a standing army.