Thomas Jefferson's Presidency: Initial Policies, Marbury v. Madison, and the Louisiana Purchase

Arrival in Washington D.C.
- Jefferson was the second president to reside in the presidential dwelling, but the first to move into the newly established Washington D.C. (Adams was the first in the new White House).
- D.C. was a swampy area, chosen with George Washington's involvement, close to Mount Vernon, benefiting him and his friends who owned surrounding land.
- A whole new town had to be built.
Jefferson's Initial Policies (Early Vision)
- Shrinking Government: He initially aimed to cut the size of the federal government roughly in half, desiring less federal power.
- Fiscal Responsibility (vs. Hamilton): Plans included reducing the national debt (Hamilton, conversely, favored national debt).
- Budget Cuts: Cut money for the military.
- Tax Repeal: Repealed the unpopular Whiskey Tax.
- Personnel Reduction: Fired many federal employees, such as those in the Coast Guard involved in tax collection.
- Shifting Stance: While starting with a vision to shrink government, Jefferson later adopted more expansive, almost Federalist-type positions, ultimately expanding the government by the end of his term.
Midnight Judges and Marbury v. Madison
- Context: Passed at the very end of John Adams's Federalist term in office.
- Federalist Strategy: Realizing they were losing power, Federalists sought to expand the federal judiciary by appointing 42 more judges.
- Lifetime Appointments: This allowed them to appoint