1. Jeffersonian Democracy

2. Virginia and Kentucky Resolves
Thomas Jefferson thought that the Sedition Act violated a person’s right to free speech. He wasn’t alone. Virginia and Kentucky also thought so, and passed the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions. This said that they (the States) had the right to declare a Federal Law ‘null and void” if it went against the Constitution.

3. Jefferson and Adams
After 4 years, Adams and Jefferson ran for the Presidency again. This time, Jefferson won. Before leaving office, Adams placed a bunch of his “friends” in positions as judges.
They were known as the midnight judges. When Jefferson got in and found out about this, he told his Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the appointment letters.

4. Marbury vs. Madison
One “judge-to-be”, William Marbury, took this matter to the Supreme Court. (Marbury vs. Madison) Marbury wanted the Supreme Court Justice, John Marshall, to order Jefferson and Madison to give him his position as judge. Marbury explained that the Supreme Court could do this because the Judiciary Act gave the Supreme Court the power.

5. John Marshall explained that the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional, and therefore he (Marshall) did not have the right to tell the President any such thing. Marbury lost and did not get his judge appointment. This was a HUGE victory for the Supreme Court, because Marshall established “Judicial Review”: the right of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

6. Jefferson’s Government
Encouraged Congress to abandon the Alien and Sedition Acts
Cut federal debt. Cut taxes, reduced debt from $87 million to $57 by 1809
Cuts in the army and navy
Streamline or systemize government departments
Increase foreign trade
Westward expansion

7. Expansion under Jefferson
The Northwest Ordinance established a process for territory to be settled and become states. In 1803, Jefferson sent an ambassador to France to buy Louisiana. Before the deal was over, he had purchased all French land in the US. This DOUBLED the size of the US. This is known as the LOUISIANNA PURCHASE.

8. Lewis and Clark
Sent by Jefferson to explore and chart / report on the new territory
Controversial because it was hypocritical of Jefferson’s minimal govt. policy
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corp of Discovery
Explored the 828,000 sq. mile region
Led by Sacajawea and her husband

9. More Foreign Troubles Barbary War British Impressments
Barbary States of North Africa
US was paying for protection from Pirates in the Mediterranean
1801, ruler of Tripoli started seizing US ships
Jefferson sent the navy to defeat them and gained peace in 1805
British Impressments
Impressments: seizing of American ships and forcing them to serve in the British Navy
By 1812, 6,000 US citizens serving in the British Navy

10. Jefferson’s Embargo Backfires
The British Leopard boarded one of our ships, The USS Chesapeake. Jefferson wanted to send a message that this was wrong but did not want an all-out war with Britain. He decided on an EMBARGO, or trade restriction.
The trade restriction hurt Britain very little, but hurt merchants and traders in New England A LOT. So, what was supposed to punish Britain really punished US citizens a lot more.