Presidents and Precedents Day 3 The Election of 1800 American History I Mr. Hensley SRMHS

Our Second President In 1796, there are TWO candidates for President John Adams (Federalist) Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican) Adams wins a narrow victory

Differences in Elections In 1796, the second-place vote-getter became Vice-President Electoral votes were NOT “winner takes all” – states could split their votes between candidates Each elector could vote for two candidates for President (!)

John Adams Background Born in New England, descended from Puritans Became famous as a lawyer (defended the soldiers in the Boston Massacre) Helped write Declaration of Independence Helped negotiate Treaty of Paris

Adams: XYZ Affair The war between England & France caused problems: France was mad that we did not ally with them & started to capture ships 3 French officials (X, Y and Z ) demand bribes Adams: “Millions for defense – not one cent for tribute!” Adams prepared for war & created the Dept of Navy, but his continued negotiations with the French paved the way for Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase in 1803

The Alien and Sedition Acts Adams’ handling of the conflict with France led to criticisms from the Democratic-Republicans The Federalists in Congress passed the Alien & Sedition Acts: Made it a crime to criticize the president or gov’t leaders This attack on free speech backfired & badly damaged the Federalist Party & Adams 22 22

Virginia & Kentucky Resolves Jefferson & James Madison were outraged & wrote the Virginia & Kentucky Resolves in 1798-99: Presented a “states rights” argument suggesting that states could ignore (nullify) national laws The “states rights” & “nullification” arguments will be used by the South to secede from the USA during the Civil War in 1860-61 23 23

Election of 1800 Once again, Adams versus Jefferson in the Election of 1800 Each man has a “running mate” (Pickney and Burr) Jefferson ties with Aaron Burr and election is decided in the House Slavery gives Jefferson the win (3/5ths Compromise)

1800 Campaign Tactics Jefferson accuses Adams of being a hermaphrodite Adams says Jefferson is dead No easy way to check facts back then Once in print, hard to take it back

The Revolution of 1800 Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans are in power after a bitter election Jefferson encourages Congress to repeal Sedition Acts (and they do) Jefferson cuts taxes and wants to balance the budget Government becomes efficient, do more with less Reduces size of army and allows charter of BUS to expire

Different Style Jefferson felt the Federalists (especially Hamilton) were too aristocratic and cared too much about style Democratic-Republicans favored function over form Jefferson dressed plainly; ate simple foods and did not insist on formalities This was popular with the people

Midnight Judges In his last days as President, John Adams appoints dozens of Federalists to be judges in federal courts Jefferson and Madison delay in delivering appointment letters One judge, Marbury, sues and his case goes to the Supreme Court

John Marshall Supreme Court (Chief Justice is Marshall) hears Marbury v. Madison Marbury wants to use part of the Judiciary Act of 1789 to force Jefferson to let him be a judge Marshall says that part of the Judiciary Act is unconstitutional Precedent of judicial review

Judicial Review is Important Marshall gave the D-R’s a “Pyrrhic” victory Jefferson won in that he did not have to give Marbury a job as a judge But the D-R’s lost the idea of nullification Supreme Court – part of the federal gov’t – will determine whether or not a law is constitutional – not the states

Westward Expansion New states: Kentucky (1792); Tennessee (1796) and Ohio (1803) Population was 5 million in 1800 (about 20% were slaves) Increases to 7 million by 1810 – most of it in the western states Three regions now – North (industry); South (cash crops) and the West (food)