Jefferson Takes Office

A Different Direction The election of 1800 was contested by both federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans over the presidency of John Adams Antifederalists also known as Republicans thought Adams was trying to create a monarchy, Federalists thought Jefferson was too soft and would give the country away to our enemies Jefferson’s running mate Aaron Burr also received votes further complicating the election, due to the confusion the 12th amendment was established to define the president and vice-president In 1801, Jefferson becomes the 1st president to be inaugurated in Washington D.C. the country’s new capital

Jefferson Charts a New Course Jefferson thought of his election as a political revolution and that the first job of the president should be to limit the federal government He enacted a policy of “Laissez Faire” – a french term for hands off, or the belief that government should not interfere in the economy Jefferson reduced the number of government employees, fired all tax collectors and reduced the size of our military Jefferson also despised the Alien and Sedition Act and ordered any monies collected as a fine returned to the citizens

Supreme Court & Judicial Review Just before he left office, John Adams appointed William Marbury for the Supreme Court, Jefferson argued that Adams did so only to maintain federalist power and fight the new president. Jefferson ordered James Madison to stop the appointment in protest. Madison sued the government over executive control. The Supreme Court ruled that the president gets his power from the Constitution and not his office. This court case allowed the Supreme Court to have the power of judicial review or the ability to rule any of the president’s actions as unconstitutional.