The Jefferson Era

Marbury v. Madison

Federalists

• Federalist Party
• Led by Alexander Hamilton & John Adams
• Believed the wealthy & educated should rule
• Did not trust the masses
• Loose Interpretation:
• Wanted a strong central government & nation Implied powers
• Supported cities, commerce (business) & finance (banking)
• More popular in North

Democrat-Republicans

• Democratic-Republican Party
• Led by Thomas Jefferson & James Madison
• Protected states rights
• Believed power belonged to common people
• Wanted a nation of small independent farmers
• More popular in the South
• Strict Interpretation
• Supported strong state government & weak national government

John Adams Presidency

• XYZ Affair
• Many Federalists want Adams to declare war on France.
• Adams makes peace with France but Federalists are angry with Adams
• Alien and Sedition Acts 1798
• Federalists try to destroy political opponents (Republicans)
• Target immigrants (Usually Republicans)
• President could deport anyone that he felt was dangerous.
• Made it a crime to write or say anything insulting or false about the President, congress, or government in general
• Fines and jail time for anyone hindering the government

The Election of 1800

Election of 1800

• Republicans upset about the Alien & Sedition Acts
• Republicans wanted to elect Thomas Jefferson because they felt that John Adams was trying to create a monarchy.
• To try and sway voters, the Federalists were threatening a Civil War if Jefferson won the election.

Election of 1800

• Vote for President and Vice President
• Federalists
• John Adams
• 1^st sitting president who had to seriously campaign to keep his job
• Charles Pinckney
• Picked because of success from XYZ Affair
• Democratic –Republican
• Thomas Jefferson
• Aaron Burr
• Popular politician within Democratic –Republican party

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Republicans Win – Who is President?

• Thomas Jefferson & Aaron Burr both tie with 73
• Jefferson ended up having the same number of votes as his running mate (also a republican candidate Aaron burr
• It was up to the House of Representatives to decide who would become president.
• Alexander Hamilton hated Aaron Burr so much that he convinced Federalists not vote at all
• Thomas Jefferson wins and became our 3^rd president

Amending the Constitution

• Showed huge flaw in election process – there was tie!
• Why not have people run as a “pair”, 1 President and 1 Vice President?
• The 12th amendment was ratified in 1804 which allowed for the election of President and Vice President on a single ticket

Transfer of Power

• In the Election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams
• Jefferson wins election in November 1800 but inauguration day isn’t until March 4, 1801.
• Adams is still in office for 4 months until Jefferson takes over.
• Lame Duck Period – the time period before a new elected official, since the old one isn’t likely to do anything (like a “lame duck.”)

Judiciary Act of 1801

• Adams and other Federalists fear that Federalist Party will no longer exist
• Judiciary Act 1801 - Increases the Number of Federal Judges to 16.
• Passed by the Federalists to maintain control over the Judicial Branch 19 days before Adams left office
• Midnight Judges - On his last day, Adams fills courts with as many Federalist judges as possible

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Pack the Courts

• It was the duty of Adams’ Secretary of State, John Marshall, to deliver the “commission” (a document granting authority to do a job) to each new appointee.
• Marshall isn’t able to deliver them all before Jefferson took over as President!
• One of these men who didn’t receive his commission was William Marbury…

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Pack the Courts

• When Jefferson takes over, he refuses to finish appointing these “Midnight” Federalist judges.
• Jefferson orders James Madison (Secretary of State) not to give out the papers to the judges
• Jefferson wants to appoint people that he wants as judges

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Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• Marbury demands that the Supreme Court examine the case and force the executive branch to hand out papers
• Marbury says Judiciary Act of 1789 gives the Supreme Court the right to do so
• William Marbury (judge appointed under Adams) sues James Madison (Secretary of State under Jefferson).

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Review: Judiciary Act of 1789

• Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court the power to review cases brought against federal officials.
• The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court jurisdiction to interfere with congressional matters
• Judiciary Act would allow the Supreme Court to force Madison into making Marbury a judge

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Marbury v. Madison (1803)

• John Marshall, the chief justice and a Federalist, listens to Marbury’s case
• Marshall agrees that Marbury had been treated unfairly
• According to the Judiciary Act Marbury was entitled to the position
• But the Supreme court rules against Marbury

WHY?

The Verdict

• Supreme Court refuses to grant Marbury his position
• After reviewing the Judiciary Act of 1789, they identified a section to be unconstitutional and voided.
• John Marshall, stated that the Courts power came from the Constitution and not Congress.
• As a result, congress didn’t control the Judicial Branch, the Constitution did.

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Lasting Impact…

• This is the first time the Supreme Court overturns an act of Congress.
• Checks & balances is in action!
• Judicial Review
• Marshall’s ruling establishes Judicial Review - Supreme Court can declare act of Congress unconstitutional
• The Courts have the power to decide the constitutionality of a law
• Constitutionality is whether or not a law violates the Constitution
• If it does, it is not a valid law

President Jefferson

• After a controversial election, Thomas Jefferson had to try to bring the opposing political parties together and get them to work together.
• Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington D.C. , the country’s new capital.
• John Adams was the first president to live in the White House.

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Political Beliefs

• “The government that governs least, governs best”
• Believed in states rights, not a strong national government
• U.S. should be an agrarian republic
• People shouldn’t be dependent on others for their livelihood
• Wanted to mend political rifts
• “We are all Federalists, we are all Republicans”

JEFFERSON’S “REVOLUTION”

• As President, Jefferson’s main goal was to limit the federal government’s power over states and citizens.
• 1. He wanted to limit government’s involvement in economic affairs.
• He believed in the idea of laissez faire - which means that the government should not interfere in the economy.

JEFFERSON’S “REVOLUTION”

• 2. Reduce government expenses to reduce their power.
• 3. Shrink the military.
• 4. Cut the number of government employees.
• 5. Eliminate all federal taxes.
• 6. He repealed the Sedition act and those imprisoned were released.

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JEFFERSON’S “REVOLUTION”

• Jefferson also wanted to ease party disputes.
• He allowed many Federalists to keep their government jobs.
• He would pay off State debts using federal money.