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

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

3. 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 (!)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Virginia & Kentucky Resolves
Jefferson & James Madison were outraged & wrote the Virginia & Kentucky Resolves in :
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 23 23

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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)