Unit 4.2 - The Rise of Political Parties & the Jeffersonian Era

key terms/events and significance

Political Parties (PCE)

• 2 groups emerged in the new republic

• Hamilton & Federalists vs. Jefferson & Democratic - Republicans

• Federalists lost popularity; people dislike Alien and Sedition Acts & new tax in case they fight France

The Election of 1800 (PCE)

• 1st election with clear political parties choice

• Aaron Burr & Jefferson tied → Jefferson won because majority gave to him (Hamilton’s support)

• D-R lawmakers elected in 1800 → peaceful transfer of power (Revolution of 1800)

The Louisiana Purchase, Constitutional Interpretation, and Consequences (NAT/PCE)

• Purchase vast western lands (Louisiana Territory): lands that Mississippi & Missouri rivers flow through

  • Initially belongs to France → Spain → France (Napoleon / needs money for war)

  • New Orleans’s ports: valuable for commerce

• A constitutional problem because no clause stated a president can purchase a foreign land (reject that certain powers were implied) → Jefferson set personal idealism aside for the country

• Double the size of America / remove Europe’s presence from nation’s border / extended western frontier to lands beyond Mississippi / increase Jefferson’s popularity

Lewis & Clark Expedition / 1804-1806 (GEO)

• Jefferson persuaded the Congress to fund scientific exploration (trans-Mississippi West / greater geographic & scientific knowledge of the region / stronger U.S. claims to Oregon territory / better relations with the Natives / more accurate maps & land routes

Judicial Impeachments (PCE)

• Jefferson tried various methods to overturn Federalist’s past measures & appointments

• Federalist appointments to the courts (Washington & Adams) were not subject to recall or removal except by impeachment → judges were less partisan & more cautious, however (threat of impeachments)

Aaron Burr vs. Hamilton (NAT/PCE)

• Former vice-president / ambitious → a D-R caucus decided not nominate him as vice-president the 2nd time / split & conspiracy / killed Hamilton / arrested for treason → acquitted

• Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel (angered his insulting remark) & fatally shot Hamilton

John Marshall’s Influence & the Supreme Court (PCE)

• Consistently favored a central government & rights of property against advocates of state’s rights / major influence throughout D-R ascendancy

• Adversary of Jefferson / Federalist

Marbury vs. Madison / 1803 (PCE)

• Informal commissions → Jefferson blocked these “midnight appointments” & ordered Madison not to deliver them → Marbury (Adam’s appointees) used for his commissions → Marshall sacrificed a small gain for long-term judicial victory / established judicial review (overrule actions of other 2 branches)

McCullouch vs. Maryland / 1819 (PCE)

• Maryland attempted to tax U.S. 2nd bank in Maryland → Marshall ruled that a state can’t tax federal institution (federal laws are supreme over state laws)

• Settled a protracted debate over the constitutionality of the national bank (constitution gave the federal government to create one)

Gibbons vs. Ogden (PCE)

• NY granted a monopoly to steamboat company that conflicted with a charter authorized by Congress → was ruled unconstitutional by Marshall

• Marshall established the federal government’s broad control of interstate commerce

Explain the causes and effects of policy debates in the early republic.

The policy debates were caused by different ideology between Federalists and D-R, divergent regional interest, and questions of territorial expansion and foreign policy. As a result, conspiracy and inter-division surfaced.