Chapter 11 The Age of Jefferson (1801-1816)

A Republican takes office Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated as the new President in 1801 and became the first president in the new capital of Washington D.C. President Jefferson sought to expand and protect the rights of the ordinary citizens. Jefferson wanted to represent the farmers who formed the backbone of the nation.

A New Style of President Thomas Jefferson promised to make government more democratic - ensuring that all the people have the same rights.\ He advocated states rights.

New economic Policies laissez faire. a French word that means, “Let alone.” According to laissez fare government - the government should play a small role in economic affairs. Free Market – goods and services are exchanged with little regulation

Less Active Government Jefferson and his treasurer Albert Gallantin wanted: a smaller size government. to Lower taxes cut federal spending.

Let’s not change everything In Jefferson’s view, Federalists had made the national government too large and too powerful. Repealed the Excise tax on whiskey and did not renew the Alien and Sedition Acts. Some Federalist policies remain mainly: Bank of the United States Judiciary Act of 1789 set the number of Supreme Court justices at six: one Chief Justice and five Associate Justices.

Midnight Judges Before leaving office, Adams appointed several judges to the Supreme Court. Jefferson was determined to remove these “midnight judges.” He tried to remove some by impeachment – bringing charges of wrongdoing against a public official.

Marbury v. Madison Jefferson ordered his secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the orders appointing William Marbury as justice of the peace. William Marbury petitioned the Supreme Court to order Madison to carry out his duties and deliver the orders.

Marbury v. Madison Marbury v. Madison established the new power of judicial review to declare an Act of Congress unconstitutional and was written by Chief Justice John Marshall. the ruling declared the Supreme Court could declare a law passed by Congress as "unconstitutional." The Court gained the authority to check and balance both Congress and the president--even though this authority is not spelled out in the Constitution. Setting a precendent that our nation would follow. Jefferson went along with the ruling despite being a strict constructionist.