Today we finished consideration of Chapter 7. Specific topics included the competing considerations of the US President (Thomas Jefferson) and the French Emperor (Napoleon Bonaparte), culminating in the Louisiana Purchase, the irony of Jefferson's exercise of executive power in a manner not expressly delineated in the Constitution (despite his prior insistence on a limited role for the central government), the conflicts with Britain over its practice of impressment, the American embargo against Britain, disputes with Spain over Florida, the ongoing battles and hostilities with native American tribes in the western regions, and the War of 1812 under President James Madison. I discussed with WIll the importance of preparing for tomorrow's quiz on this chapter.