The Age of Jefferson: Unit 4

John Adams (1797-1801)

Has rough presidency! ☹ Was a federalist and won election of 1976, however he did not have a great situation. (rip) Too many ppl still from Washingtons cabinet so he felt like he could not fire them and his VP was a dem-rep (Thomas Jefferson) and he did not get along with him 😑

XYZ Affair (1797-1798)

Basically what happened was the US negotiated Jays treaty w/ Britian and France got all upsetti spaghetti with the English. 😔 Then these US diplomats were sent to France and they instead were threatened by France and were asked to pay them 250,000 and millions in loans to France. (what a scandal). Federalists were super mad that Dem-Repubs favored stronger ties with France.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Alien Act - Could detain/deport suspicious activity (😕) Neutralization Act - Takes 14 years to gain citizenship Like what?

Sedition Act was added (set to end in 1801) which made it illegal to criticize the President/Congress

They lowk claimed that it was for security purposes but it was really intended just to reduce the support for Dem-Reps in upcoming congressional election. 🤨

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798-99)

Written secretly by Jefferson (KY) and Madison (VA). 🤫 Argued states could nullify unconstitutional federal laws (response to Alien & Sedition Acts). Introduced idea of states' rights.

However, who decides if a national law is unconstitutional?? The Constitution is unclear.. 🤨

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Jefferson & Madison. Favored states' rights, agrarian economy, strict construction. Supported France, distrusted commerce/urbanization. Strongest among farmers, South, frontier.

The Election of 1800

Jefferson and his running mate get the same number of votes. (oh no)

The House of Representatives breaks the tie and Jefferson is decided to be safer 😌

Before Adams leaves office, he attempts to stuff the judicial branch with Federalists judges.

Overall, this proves to be beginning of the end of the Federalists.

Thomas Jefferson as President

During his administration, Jeffersons goals included: reducing the size and cost of the Federal Govt 💵 , repeal Federalist legislation (kept Bank of the US and Revolutionary War debts), & keeping the peace 🕊

Marbury v. Madison

jefferson hated john adam’s midnight appointments, so he tells Madison to not let them have their jobs (bc theye the opps).

but this guy marbury gets angy and tries to sue for his commision to the bench 

marshall adds on and says this law is unconstitutional and says supreme court has final say on whats constitutional so this is a huge lowk win for the judicial branch

John Marshall

Federalist Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (aka Big Court Boss) 😤

This man basically said, “Yeah actually…the Supreme Court decides what’s constitutional, not the states or the President.”
In Marbury v. Madison, he creates Judicial Review 👀
→ meaning the Court gets the final say.
So he majorly increased the power of the federal government and the Supreme Court.
Lowkey one of the most influential people in U.S. history.

Louisiana Purchase 

Jefferson gets worried he will lose the ability to trade with New Orleans, so he sends Livington and Monroe to negotiate with them. 🔄  

Napolean gets annoyed with the US and decides he wants to sell Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars.

Jefferson was not happy 😡 felt that he was forced to be flexible with the Constitution.

Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea

Jefferson sends Meriwether Lewis & William Clark to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

They go on this HUGE expedition to map the land, make notes on animals/plants, and meet Native American groups.
Sacagawea (absolute queen 💁‍♀) guided them, translated, and helped them survive.
Like fr, without her they would’ve been LOST lost.
Their journey helps the U.S. actually understand what it just bought.

Impressment of sailors

When the British navy literally kidnapped American sailors off ships and forced them into British service. 😐

Imagine you’re working and suddenly BOOM drafted into another country’s navy.
Yeah… America was NOT having it.
This created big tension between the U.S. and Britain and was one of the reasons the U.S. starts getting real heated → eventually contributes to the War of 1812. ⚔

Embargo Act

Jefferson tries to avoid war with Britain & France by stopping all American trade. Like… ALL of it. 🙃

The idea:
“If we stop sending them goods, they’ll miss us and stop attacking our ships.” 😌

The reality:
Europe was fine.
The U.S. economy collapsed.
Farmers? Suffering.
Merchants? Broke.
Smuggling? SKYROCKETED.
People started calling it “O-grab-me” (Embargo backwards 😭)

Congress was like “yeah no” and repealed it.
Big flop for Jefferson.