Jeffersonian AmericaJeffersonian Philosophy and establishment of Judicial Review

• Thomas Jefferson was Thomas Jefferson was more than just a more than just a lawyer and politicianlawyer and politician

• He was an He was an avocational architect, avocational architect, a skilled violinist, a skilled violinist, amateur scientist, amateur scientist, avid horseman and a avid horseman and a voracious readervoracious reader

• Jefferson advised the Jefferson advised the designers of the city designers of the city of Washington, D.C. of Washington, D.C. and created his and created his home, Monticello, in home, Monticello, in VirginiaVirginia

A Renaissance Man – The Sage of Monticello

Jefferson’s Contradictions• He was born into He was born into

wealth and privilege wealth and privilege yet he championed yet he championed the rule by virtue the rule by virtue and merit and the and merit and the life of small farmerslife of small farmers

• Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was a wealthy was a wealthy planter that owned planter that owned many slaves yet many slaves yet wrote that “all men wrote that “all men are created equal”are created equal”

• Although many Although many southern leaders southern leaders freed their slaves freed their slaves upon their death, upon their death, Jefferson did notJefferson did not

Jeffersonian Ideals• Jefferson was convinced of Jefferson was convinced of

that the future of America that the future of America rested in the creation of a rested in the creation of a nation of small nation of small independent farmersindependent farmers

• He believed an agrarian He believed an agrarian population would better population would better support the ideals of a support the ideals of a democratic and democratic and republican governmentrepublican government

• Jefferson feared the result Jefferson feared the result of Americans crowding of Americans crowding into cities as had into cities as had happened in Europehappened in Europe

Undoing Federalist Policies• Jefferson and the Democratic Jefferson and the Democratic

Republicans believed the Republicans believed the federal government should federal government should have less powerhave less power

• Allowed Alien and Sedition Allowed Alien and Sedition Acts to expireActs to expire▫ Freed people convicted Freed people convicted

under the actsunder the acts

• Abolished many taxesAbolished many taxes▫ Including the Whiskey TaxIncluding the Whiskey Tax

• Reduced the size of the Reduced the size of the militarymilitary

• Reduced national debt using Reduced national debt using money from tariffs and land money from tariffs and land salessales

• John Adams used this act to appoint as John Adams used this act to appoint as many federalist judges as he could many federalist judges as he could between the election of 1800 and between the election of 1800 and Jefferson’s inaugurationJefferson’s inauguration

• Adams supposedly remained at his Adams supposedly remained at his desk until well into the night signing desk until well into the night signing the commissions of the “midnight” the commissions of the “midnight” judges.judges.

• Packed the courts full of federalist Packed the courts full of federalist judges who would serve for lifejudges who would serve for life

• Adams also appointed a new Chief Adams also appointed a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, a cousin of Thomas Jefferson Marshall, a cousin of Thomas Jefferson and a lifelong Federalist, committed to and a lifelong Federalist, committed to strengthening the federal government.strengthening the federal government.

Adams and the Midnight Judges – The Judiciary Act of 1801

• Jefferson told Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver Adams’ remaining judge commissions

• One of the new judges (William Marbury) was angered & asked the Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his comission

• Marbury used the Judiciary Act of 1789 that set-up the court system as the basis of his lawsuit

Supreme Court’s Opinion • Supreme Court Chief Justice Supreme Court Chief Justice

John Marshall (appointed by John Marshall (appointed by former President John Adams) former President John Adams) gave the court’s opiniongave the court’s opinion

• Opinion identified which cases Opinion identified which cases the Court could hear directly the Court could hear directly & this was not one of them& this was not one of them▫ The case should have first been The case should have first been

heard in a lower courtheard in a lower court

• Marshall ruled Marshall ruled the Judiciary the Judiciary Act of 1789 was Act of 1789 was unconstitutional and voidunconstitutional and void

• Established judicial reviewEstablished judicial review

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review – – reviewing decisions reviewing decisions of other branches of other branches and deciding it is and deciding it is

constitutionalconstitutional

Quote inscribed on the wall of the Supreme Court building- Washington, D.C.