Chapter 8 - The Jefferson Era 

The Election of 1800

• Jefferson defeats John Adams take

power

• 1st peaceful transition of

parties

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Jefferson’s Inaugural

• 1st President inaugurated in Washington DC

• Outlines his essential principles of a more limited government

• “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”

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Early Accomplishments

• Lets the Alien and Sedition Acts expire

• Cuts all internal taxes (ex: Whiskey Task)

• Uses tariffs and sales of Western land to reduce the National Debt

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Marbury Vs. Madison

• Jefferson had James Madison refuse to give a commission to one of John Adams’

“Midnight Judges”

• Issue goes to the Supreme Court
• Establishes the concept of “Judicial Review”
• The Court may decide if a law is Constitutional or not

The Louisiana Purchase

• Owned by France (at war with England)
• New Orleans controls the entire Mississippi River
• Haitian Revolution makes the territory less valuable to France
• Jefferson is not sure if it’s Constitutional (not the role of the Executive branch)
• Uses his treaty-making power
• $15 million to double the size of the US
• Ratified by the Senate in 1803
• Importance: Doubles the size of the United States

The Lewis & Clark Expedition

• Lewis & Clark hired to explore & find Northwest Passage
• Sacajawea brought on as guide
• Reach Pacific in Nov. 1805
• Open the way to settlement & claim on Oregon Territory

The Embargo Act of 1807 \n

• France & England's war traps US in the middle
• US ships & sailors harassed by both
• Act blocks trade against both countries
• Only hurts US merchants(hurts us more than it hurts them) \n

Jefferson’s Legacy

• Jefferson’s hand-picked successor James Madison becomes the next President
• Jefferson renews friendship with friend and political rival, John Adams
• Both die on July 4, 1826 - the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

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