The Era of Jefferson: Learning Targets

• I will…– Explain the “deal” brokered to allow Jefferson to

become the 3rd US President– Explain the changes to the federal government

implemented by Jefferson during his presidency– Interpret and analyze the significance of the

Supreme Court Case of Marbury vs. Madison

The Election of 1800

Significance of the Election of 1800

• Results– Thomas Jefferson – 73– Aaron Burr – 73– John Adams – 65– Charles Pinckney – 64– John Jay – 1

• House of Representatives votes for Jefferson– 6 days, 36 different

votes

• Jefferson wins..How?• Results in the

– Electors would vote separately for President and Vice-President

12th Amendment

A ‘Lil Bit of Trivia• Alexander Hamilton

brokered the deal for T.J. to win the presidency…– Why? NOT because he like

T.J., but because he couldn’t stand Aaron Burr

• Leaves Aaron Burr really stoked

• July 1804, Aaron Burr kills Alexander Hamilton in a duel…yep, a duel!

The Original “Got Milk” Commercial

You can tell I’m Aaron Burr by the way I’m dropping

Hamilton's

“REVOLUTION OF 1800”

• Federalists ceded power to Democratic Republicans peacefullyWars typically errupted in Europe caused

from exchange of power

• Jefferson brought major change to the federal governmentLimited the powers of federal government of

states and citizens and…

LAISSEZ FAIRE CAPITALISM

LAISSEZ FAIRE CAPITALISM

• Literally translates to : “Leave Alone!”• Government should stay out of economic

affairs• Very similar to today’s Republicans– Spending on social programs =– Government aid to corporations =– Government regulations on businesses =

No!Nein!

Nyet!

Jefferson’s Limitations on the Federal Government

1. Reduced the number of people actually working in the government– Fired tax collectors, cut the number of US diplomats

overseas

2. Eliminated all federal taxes– Included the Whiskey Tax– All government funding comes from tariffs

3. Reduced the size of the navy and army– Army = 4,000 to 2,500

4. Pardoned those prosecuted under the Sedition Act

Federalist Policies Jefferson Kept• Kept the National Bank of the US• Continued paying down the national debt• Retained most Federalist officeholders

Haters gonna hate...but I know the meaning of

throwing the opposition a bone!

Strengthening the Supreme Court

• Election of 1800 – Republicans take the Executive and Legislative branches– Federalists still control the Judicial branch–Adams passed a bill allowing him to “pack

the court” with Federalists• Appoints 16 federal circuit judges and 42

justices of the peace in his last month of office

“Midnight Appointments”

• William Marbury (“midnight judge”) appointed justice of the peace for Washington D.C. the night before Adam’s leaves office

• The practice of making such appointments was to deliver a "commission," or notice, of appointment– Secretary of State, James Madison refuses

• William Marbury sues Madison under the Judiciary Act of 1789

The Politics of Politics

• “Yep, Marbury should be placed in his commission and T. Jeff doesn’t actually do what we say (which would’ve prolly happened), we would look weak.”

• “Nope, Marbury doesn’t have the right to the commission, then the we look like pansies…like we’re afraid of T. Jeff.” – What to do?!?

If the Supreme Court rules…

T. Jeffe

rson… Supreme Court

In Both Scenarios…

Judiciary Act of 1789

• Spelled out the practice of delivering commissions for judges and justices of the peace

• Also discussed something called a writ of mandamus (“we command”) , which basically says that the Supreme Court could hear cases for the “first time” (original jurisdiction)

• The Constitution says the Supreme Court DOES NOT have that right to do that! – Supreme Court only has appellate jurisdiction

2 Types of Courts in the US• Trial Courts– Courts with original

jurisdiction have the power to hear a case for the first time

– Evidence, testimony, witnesses…Law & Order

• Appellate Courts– Only review decisions

and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts

– No witnesses, no testimony, just a review of the facts

Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution: The Supreme Court only has appellate jurisdiction…So, the Judiciary Act of 1789 is unconstitutional! (or

at lease the writ of mandamus)

The Ruling in Marbury vs. Madison

• Court rendered a unanimous (4–0) decision– Marbury had the right to his commission but the

court did not have the power to force Madison to deliver the commission

• Instead ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional

• Establishes the principle of Judicial Review– Legislative and executive actions are subject to

review (and possible invalidation) by the judiciary

John Marshall• Longest serving Chief Justice

in the country’s history (34 years)

• Before J.M. the judiciary was the weakest branch of the government

• After J.M. it was an equal player– Marbury vs. Madison

establishes the right for the courts to say a law is NOT in alignment with the Constitution…a safeguard in the system of “checks and balances”!

You’ve just been

“lawyered”….Boo-ya!

The Legacy of T. Jeff