245.  The Twelfth Amendment, 1804.—­Four presidential elections had now been held under the method provided by the Constitution.  And that method had not worked well (pp. 171, 176).  It was now (1804) changed by the adoption of the Twelfth Amendment which is still in force.  The old machinery of presidential electors was kept.  But it was provided that in the future each elector should vote for President and for Vice-President on separate and distinct ballots.  The voters had no more part in the election under the new system than they had had under the old system.  The old method of apportioning electors among the states was also kept.  This gives to each state as many electors as it has Senators and Representatives in Congress.  No matter how small its territory, or how small its population, a state has at least two Senators and one Representative, and, therefore, three electors.  The result is that each voter in a small state has more influence in choosing the President than each voter in a large state.  Indeed, several Presidents have been elected by minorities of the voters of the country as a whole.

[Sidenote:  Jefferson reelected, 1804.]

[Sidenote:  Strength of the Republicans.]

246.  Reelection of Jefferson, 1804.—­Jefferson’s first administration had been most successful.  The Republicans had repealed many unpopular laws.  By the purchase of Louisiana the area of the United States had been doubled and an end put to the dispute as to the navigation of the Mississippi.  The expenses of the national government had been cut down, and a portion of the national debt had been paid.  The people were prosperous and happy.  Under these circumstances Jefferson was triumphantly reelected.  He received one hundred and sixty-two electoral votes to only fourteen for his Federalist rival.

[Illustration:  STEPHEN DECATUR.]

CHAPTER 24

CAUSES OF THE WAR OF 1812

[Sidenote:  The African pirates. Higginson, 237-239; Eggleston, 228-229.]

[Sidenote:  Tribute paying.]

[Sidenote:  Jefferson ends this system.]

[Sidenote:  Hero Tales, 103-113.]

247.  The North Africa Pirates.—­Stretching along the northern shores of Africa from Egypt westward to the Atlantic were four states.  These states were named Tunis, Tripoli, Algiers, and Morocco.  Their people were Mohammedans, and were ruled over by persons called Deys or Beys, or Pachas.  These rulers found it profitable and pleasant to attack and capture Christian ships.  The cargoes of the captured vessels they sold at good prices, and the seamen and passengers they sold at good prices too—­as slaves.  The leading powers of Europe, instead of destroying these pirates, found it easier to pay them to let their ships alone.  Washington and Adams also paid them to allow American ships to sail unharmed.  But the pirates were never satisfied