4.2 The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

Jeffersonian Politics

Principles associated with Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republican Party, emphasizing states' rights and agrarianism.

Democratic-Republicans

A political party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison advocating for limited government and strict interpretation of the Constitution.

Louisiana Purchase

A significant land acquisition in 1803 where the U.S. acquired 828,000 square miles from France for $15 million, doubling the nation's size.

Lewis and Clark

Explorers commissioned by President Jefferson to map and study the to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory, aimed to map the land, establish trade, and study the geography and native cultures of the region.

Strict Construction

A legal philosophy interpreting the Constitution literally and narrowly, adhering closely to its text, favored by Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.

John Marshall

The fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. (1801-1835) who strengthened federal power and established judicial review.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to evaluate the constitutionality of legislative acts and executive actions, established in Marbury v. Madison.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case that established judicial review, involving William Marbury's petition for a writ of mandamus. The Supreme Court, led by John Marshall, ruled that the law Marbury invoked was unconstitutional.

Fletcher v. Peck

1810 case that involved a land grant in Georgia and was notable for being the first case to strike down a state law as unconstitutional. It reaffirmed the principle that the Supreme Court could invalidate state legislation conflicting with the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland

The 1819 case affirming federal implied powers and the supremacy of federal laws over state laws regarding the Second Bank of the U.S., emphasized the importance of a federal government.

Dartmouth College v. Woodward

The 1819 case ruling that Dartmouth's charter was a contract protected from state interference, reinforcing contract rights.

Gibbons vs. Ogden

The 1824 case, clarified the scope of Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had the authority to regulate interstate commerce, invalidating a New York law that granted a monopoly on steamboat operations.