The Jefferson Administration

AGE OF DEMOCRACY

Informality: Jefferson's administration was marked by a departure from the more formal styles of previous administrations.
Partisan Politics: The era was characterized by strong partisan divisions.
Killed off the Federalists: The Federalist Party declined significantly under Jefferson.
Rise of the Common Man: Refers to the increasing importance and influence of ordinary citizens in politics.

In the final days of his presidency, John Adams appointed John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Marshall served for 34 years.
Judiciary Act of 1801: Created six new federal courts.
Adams appointed Federalist judges to these positions.
Jefferson was infuriated by these appointments, viewing them as an attempt by the Federalists to maintain power in the judiciary.

Adams failed to deliver the commissions for the justices of the peace for the District of Columbia before leaving office.
Jefferson instructed his Secretary of State, James Madison, to withhold these commissions.
William Marbury, one of the appointees, sued to compel Madison to deliver his commission.
Marbury sought a court order (writ of mandamus) to force Madison to act.

Option #1: Refuse to Give the Order
- Avoid conflict with Jefferson.
- However, it would appear as if the court was being manipulated by the executive branch.
- Marbury had a legitimate claim.
Option #2: Give the Order
- But the country was against Federalists.
- The Court would look weak if the order was ignored.
Solution:
- Marbury had a right to his commission according to the Judiciary Act of 1789.
- However, the Supreme Court (SC) found that the section of the Judiciary Act of 1789 which gave the Court original jurisdiction in this type of case was unconstitutional because it expanded the Court's original jurisdiction beyond what was specified in the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court does not have the authority to tell government officials what to do in this case.

The landmark decision established the principle of judicial review.
This principle gives the Supreme Court the power to declare a law unconstitutional.

Louisiana was under French control, having been acquired by Napoleon Bonaparte.
1803: Jefferson sent James Monroe to France to offer 10 million for New Orleans.
Napoleon, needing funds for his European campaigns, offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for 15 million.
There were questions regarding the constitutionality of the purchase, as the Constitution did not explicitly grant the president the power to acquire new territory.
The Senate ratified the treaty, and the Louisiana Purchase was completed.
Jefferson was reelected in 1804.

Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition with approximately 50 men to explore the newly acquired territory.
The expedition departed from St. Louis in May 1804.
Objectives:
- To study the geology, topography, plants, and animals of the region.
- To establish relationships with the native populations.
- To provide a detailed report of their findings.
The expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805.

The British navy seized American sailors and forced them into service through a practice known as impressment.
Embargo Act of 1807: Congress passed the Embargo Act, which prohibited American ships from sailing to foreign ports.
The goal was to harm the British economy by preventing them from purchasing American goods.
The Embargo Act backfired, causing significant economic problems for the United States.

Jefferson left office unpopular and in poor health.
He questioned his involvement in politics.
Jefferson focused on scientific study at home.
He established the University of Virginia.
Quote: “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free … it expects what never was and never will be.”