Jefferson Alters the Nation’s Course

Objectives Recall how the US borders expanded during Thomas Jefferson's Administration Define or Identify: Lewis and Clark, Marbury v. Madison, Aaron Burr, Judicial Review, Judicary Act of 1801, John Marshall, Louisiana Purchase, Midnight Judges, Sacajawea Explain what judicial review is and determine why it's important Illustrate why the US was concerned about the Louisiana Territory

I. Jefferson Wins Presidential Election of 1800 While the Election of 1800 was a bitter feud between Democratic Republicans and Federalists, it ended up with an Electoral Deadlock between two Democratic Republicans A. Electoral Deadlock: Jefferson defeated Adams by 8 electoral votes, but Jefferson’s running mate Aaron Burr received the same amount of votes, it was a tie between the two. 36 ballots were cast in the House of Representatives before Jefferson got a majority. The deadlock showed a flaw in the electoral process and as a result, the 12 th amendment was passed to ensure Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates ballots would be cast separately.

Burr/Hamilton Duel After losing to Jefferson, Burr read unflattering remarks by Alexander Hamilton. Burr challenged Hamilton to a Pistol Duel July 11, 1804, Burr and Hamilton went across the Hudson River to Weehawken, New Jersey and dueled. Alexander Hamilton fired into the air, but Burr shot and killed Hamilton Burr was charged with Murder but was not brought to trial.

II. The Jefferson Presidency A. Simplifying the Presidency – Jefferson believed that a simple government best suited the needs of a republic. – He walked to his inauguration – He would wear work clothes and not be formal when receiving visitors. – Jefferson also did this in government Reduced the size of army and navy Reduced government social functions. Jefferson believed in Free Trade with no taxes or tariffs

B. Southern Dominance of Politics – South began to dominate politics because of D.C.s location. – Jefferson and the Next two presidents were from Virginia. – Federalists began to decline in dominance because Federalists refused to participate in political campaigns.

C. John Marshall and the Supreme Court – Adams had appointed John Marshall (staunch federalist) to the Supreme Court. – Just prior to leaving office, Adams had pushed through Congress the Judiciary Act of This act increased the number of federal judges by 16 and Adams filed most of these positions with Federalists on the last day of his administration. These judges were called Midnight Judges because many of the judges were confirmed minutes before Adams ended his term at midnight. – The packing of the court angered Jefferson, and Jefferson refused to allow any appointments that had not been delivered by the time Adams left office.

D. Marbury v. Madison – The previous argument led to the most important Supreme Court Case Marbury v. Madison (1803) – Marbury was a midnight judge who never received his commission. – James Madison (Jefferson’s Sec. of State) was supposed to deliver them but did not on Jefferson’s order. – The Judiciary Act of 1789 ordered the papers be delivered, so Marbury sued.

– Marshall and the Supreme Court stated that Madison’s actions were illegal and fixable. – However, they also stated the part of the Judiciary Act that determined Marbury could bring his suit to the Supreme Court was Unconstitutional. – This set up the policy of Judicial Review the ability to declare an act of Congress or the President Unconstitutional.

III. The United States Expands West Throughout Jefferson’s presidency, Americans continued their westward migration across the Appalachians. From the population of Ohio grew from 45, ,000. Most settlers came through the Cumberland Gap to Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Daniel Boone, one of America’s great frontier guides led the clearing of a road from Virginia to Kentucky. Their Wilderness Road became one of the major routes for migration.

A. The Louisiana Purchase – 1800 Napoleon Bonaparte of France persuaded Spain to give France back the Louisiana Territory. – Jefferson feared this might force the US to ally with Britain for protection – Jefferson sent James Monroe to negotiate for New Orleans and Western Florida, but Napoleon had given up his dreams of conquest in America. He decided to sell the entirety of Louisiana to the US.

Monroe and his partner Livingston bought Louisiana for 15 million dollars. While Jefferson wasn’t sure it was Constitutional, he gave his blessing to the treaty and the Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the size of the United States by including lands west of the Mississippi River.

` B. Lewis and Clark – Jefferson wanted to explore the territory so in 1803, he sent Meriwether Lewis to collect scientific information and map the area. – He also chose William Clark to go with him. Starting with 50 soldiers, the expedition became smaller but added a Native American woman of the Shoshone tribe to the group. This woman Sacajawea served as interpreter and guide. – The Expedition took 2 years, but recorded valuable information about the Western Territories.