Administration of Administration of Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

Election of 1800

Election of 1800a. Jefferson and Burr tied (D-R)• Each received 73 votes, so House of Reps

voted 36 times• Hamilton (F) supported Jefferson to break

deadlock – Jefferson won• Burr later challenged Hamilton to a duel -

Hamilton died, Burr’s career ruined• 12th Amendment passed: separate ballots

for President and VP

A Republican takes over• As a Republican, Jefferson made changes

1. abolished internal taxes2. reduced govt. spending3. cut national debt in ½4. scaled down the army

• Appointed as many Republicans as possible!

Judicial Branch• Before Adams left office

he secured the Judicial branch in the hands of the Federalists

• Judiciary Act of 1801-Reduced Supreme Court from 6 to 5 Justices-Created more federal courts-Midnight appointments:last minute appointments to new courts (all Federalists)

John Marshall

• Father of the Supreme Court

• Midnight appointment

• Chief Justice• Revolutionized the

Supreme Court- established it as a legitimate branch of government = to others

• How?

Marbury v. MadisonMarbury v. Madison18031803

William Marbury appointed as Justice of

the Peace in the midnight appointments

James Madison new secretary of state:

refuses to deliver the appointment

Court’s Decision• Declared the Judiciary Act of 1789 (act of

Congress) unconstitutional- Constitution does not give leg. power to make executive officers perform these services

• Marshall and the SC had defined their power

of Judicial Review: the power of the SC to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional

• Marshall is responsible for making the Judicial Branch equal to the other two branches

Louisiana PurchaseJefferson wanted the Land for his Republican

dream of a Nation filled with Farmers!

The Facts

• Jefferson buys land from Napoleon- port of New Orleans was closed to us and we wanted access

• $15 million• Mississippi River to

Rocky Mountains• Doubles the size of

the Country

Is This Constitutional?

• Jefferson believes in Strict Construction of Constitution

- does not give the authority to buy land

• The Constitution gives the Pres. the right to make treaties

- this can be the excuse to buy the land

Lewis and

Clark Expeditio

n

1804-1806

“If therefore there is anything under those circumstances, in this enterprise, which would induce you to participate with me in it’s fatigues, it’s dangers and it’s honors, believe me there is no man on earth with whom I should feel equal pleasure in sharing them as with yourself.”

Lewis to Clark, June 16, 1803

“[I] cheerfully join in in an ‘official character’ as mentioned in

your letter and partake of all the Dangers Difficulties & fatigues,

and I anticipate the honors & rewards of the result of such an

enterprise should we be successful in accomplishing it.”

Clark to Lewis, July 17, 1803

The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

[Map from David Goldfield, The American Journey (Prentice Hall)]

Who went with Lewis and Clark?

Sacagawea and Jean Baptiste (Pomp)

• Guide• Translator• Indicator of peace• Encounter her tribe, her brother is now

chief: gives needed horses and supplies

Donna Reed as Sacagawea in

Paramount Picture’s The Far Horizons

(1955)

York• Clark’s slave• Viewed as a

novelty by the Natives- color- strength

The goal was to travel as much by water as

possible: Maybe even find a complete water passage to the

Pacific

They made treaties with the Indians and traded with them for

supplies.

19th Century Trade ItemsGlass beads (especially blue and white, red vermillion paint,

awls, needles, fishhooks, cloth, guns, hatchets, metal knives, etc.

[Original Journals Located in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, PA]

They kept detailed journals on new plants

and animals

Meriwether Lewis’s Journal Reflections

William Clark. A Map of part of the Continent of North America. 1810. (Coe Collection; Yale University)

They mapped their route and

surrounding area

Clark Map (1814)

They saw land and experienced

things that no other European

had.

Ocean in View O! the Joy!

Cape Disappointment

Yellowstone River Valley

Pompey’s Pillar

Significance

• Doubled US & US claims to Pacific NW

• Fur Trade• Scientific Achievements– Plants– Animals

• Indian relations (civilization and/or removal)

• Geography– mapped– Zebulon Pike, Stephen Long