The Era of Jefferson and Federal Power

Flashcards covering the peaceful transfer of power in 1800, strict vs. loose constructionist views, the Louisiana Purchase, and landmark Supreme Court cases under John Marshall.

What was the significance of the election of 1800 in American political history?

It represented a peaceful transfer of power between two rival political parties, which was uncommon in world history at that point.

How did the Federalists' 'loose constructionist' view interpret the Constitution?

They believed the federal government could exercise powers that were not explicitly stated in the Constitution, such as using the necessary and proper clause to create a national bank.

What was the 'strict constructionist' view held by Democratic-Republicans?

They believed the federal government could only exercise power that was explicitly granted by the Constitution; if a power was not written, it could not be exercised.

What was Thomas Jefferson's vision for the United States as an 'agrarian nation'?

A nation based on small-scale agriculture led by yeoman farmers who owned their own farms and used family labor.

Which two specific actions did Jefferson take to reduce federal power early in his presidency?

He repealed the whiskey tax and reduced the federal government's debt by about half.

What event in Haiti influenced Napoleon Bonaparte's decision to sell the Louisiana territory?

The successful revolt led by Toussaint Louverture and his troops, which defeated the French and left Haiti under control of a black-led government.

How much did the United States agree to pay France for the entire Louisiana territory?

$$15,000,000$$

Why did the Louisiana Purchase present a conflict for Jefferson's strict constructionist principles?

The Constitution nowhere explicitly authorizes a president to purchase land from a foreign government.

Who were the leaders of the Corps of Discovery and which other explorer mapped the southern territory?

Merriweather Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery; Zebulon Pike explored the southern part of the territory.

What was the intent of the Embargo Act of 1807?

It was a federal ban on international trade meant to force Great Britain and France to respect United States neutrality during the Napoleonic Wars.

What name was given to John Adams' final act of stuffing federal courts with Federalist judges?

The midnight appointment.

What major legal power was established by the Supreme Court in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

Judicial review, which established the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution.

How did the ruling in Marbury v. Madison affect the relationship between federal and state power?

It overturned Jefferson's argument in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions by asserting the court, not the states, had the final say on constitutionality.

What was the key outcome of the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

It established the supremacy of federal law over state law and ruled that the national bank was constitutional based on a loose constructionist interpretation.