The Realty Time Capsule: 1807 – An American Crisis and the First Steamboat Service

Introduction: 

1806 was another year of progress for the United States. The government sent out another expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase. This time, they would focus on areas not covered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. What did 1807 bring to the United States? Let’s find out with this Realty Time Capsule. 

Three Key Points  

1. The Burr Conspiracy: Proving that conspiracy theories are not products of recent times; the so-called Burr Conspiracy was uncovered. Aaron Burr was accused of conspiring to establish a separate country. What is alarming is that he was a former Vice President of the United States. In February 1807, President Thomas Jefferson ordered the arrest of Burr for treason.  

 The ensuing trial destroyed Burr’s political career and he was widely reviled throughout the country. There was no explicit evidence that could prove his guilt and he was eventually acquitted. However, Burr seems to have been up to something, although what that something was is still unclear. Burr himself claims that all he wanted was to farm the 40,000 acres of land that had been leased to him by Spain. Modern historians are still in disagreement about what his true intentions were. 

The Burr Conspiracy was arguably the first real estate scandal that took place in the United States. However, most see it as a political scandal. 

2. Pike Expedition Ends: The Pike Expedition which started in 1806 ended on July 1, 1807. The expedition aimed to explore the south and west of the Louisiana Purchase. While the expedition managed to gain information about the area assigned to it, the team committed several errors. The expedition found itself in Spanish territory where they ended up being captured by the authorities. Pike and the majority of his men were sent back by the Spanish authorities to the United States although some expedition members were kept in Spanish prisons where they would remain for years. 

 While the expedition had mixed results, Pike would be celebrated as a pioneer of American exploration. 

 3. The Embargo Act: The Embargo Act was passed by the United States Congress in December 1807. The law was in response to the harassment of France and Britain against American shipping. Its main goal was to prevent the impressment of American sailors into British naval service. 

As a political tool, the act failed as the harassment of American shipping continued and its effect was only felt by American traders. The British and the French were able to find a way to get around the embargo, particularly through the Spanish remaining possessions in North America. In the meantime, American traders were the ones who suffered because of the embargo since it cut off their access to the European markets. 

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What Historic Real Estate Events Shaped 1807?  

The Burr Conspiracy was the main news that occupied the country in 1807. No other political scandal has broken out since then that can compare to it. A former Vice President was accused of treason for planning to take a large chunk of the United States real estate and turn it into another country. 

Economic Factors, Supply, and Demand  

The Embargo Act was enacted towards the end of the year, and it would hurt the American economy. While the intention of the act was a good one, mainly to prevent the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy, its effects were mostly on Americans.  

While British and French traders were still able to gain access to the American market through Spanish possessions, particularly in South America. On the other hand, Americans lost access to Europe. Also, America had limited means to enforce the act since its naval power could not compete with France or Britain on a one-on-one basis, let alone with both powers at the same time. American shipbuilders also suffered because of the embargo, losing the British clientele.  

While the embargo had a negative short-term effect on the American economy, it was a positive in the long run.  

Government Policies and Interventions  

The government intervention in the Burr Conspiracy played a prominent role in 1807. However, it was never made clear if the former Vice President is guilty of the charges laid against him or not. The Embargo Act was also a major government action that had a major effect on that year. 

Societal Preferences and Trends 

Although there is a strong demand for goods manufactured in Europe, the trade embargo would cut off the supply. This would cause the local manufacturers to step up to meet that demand. The local population had no other choice but to settle for locally manufactured goods. The long-term effect is that American manufacturing received a boost. 

Transportation and Infrastructure    

Robert Fulton’s Clermont leaves New York City on the Hudson River for Albany, New York. This became the first commercial steamboat service in the world. Robert Livingston funded the project which would prove that steam power was a viable means of commercial transportation. This would pave the way for the great river steamboats. 

1807 was a year filled with uncertainty with the Burr Conspiracy and the Embargo Act causing many to fear for the future. But it was also a year filled with hope as the first commercial steamboat service got underway. For the next Realty Time Capsule, we will look at the year 1808 and what it had in store for the United States. 

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For a deeper understanding and look into these topics check out these titles:

The Burr Conspiracy:

The Pike Expedition: