10-1 Notes: Jefferson Takes Office

1. 10-1 Notes: Jefferson Takes Office

2. The Election of 1800 • President John Adams (F) vs. Vice President Thomas Jefferson (D-R) • Each believed the other endangered the Constitution and the American republic • Democratic-Republicans argued that Federalists violated the 1st Amendment with the Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalists thought the nation was about to be torn apart by radicals, people who take extreme stances (scared of having a French Revolution-style “Reign of Terror”) • Jefferson (D-R) won with 73 votes to Adams’s (F) 65 votes (Aaron Burr also received 73 votes though too!)

3. Breaking the Tie • According to Constitution, House of Representatives would choose between Burr and Jefferson • Democratic-Republicans had a majority of the seats but wouldn’t take their seats in time to decide winner (Federalists would decide!) • Some Federalists feared Jefferson so much they backed Burr, while others (such as Hamilton) considered Burr to be unqualified and backed Jefferson • House voted 35 times without determining a winner over the course of a week • Finally Hamilton’s friend James A. Bayard persuaded several Federalists to not vote for Burr • Jefferson became President, while Burr became Vice President (and never forgot Hamilton’s insults!)

4. The Hamilton-Burr Duel 1804 – Democratic-Republicans replaced Burr as their candidate for Vice President Burr ran for Governor of New York Hamilton again questioned Burr’s fitness for public office Burr lost the election, challenged Hamilton to a duel, and shot and killed him on July 11th, 1804

5. The Talented Jefferson • Thomas Jefferson is one of the most multi-talented persons to ever be President of the United States • Jefferson was fascinated with the architecture of the Greeks and Romans and advised the builders of Washington D.C. to incorporate those influences • Classical influences can also be seen in the design of Jefferson’s home, Monticello • Jefferson designed storm windows, a seven-day clock, and a dumbwaiter (a small elevator that brought up bottles of wine from the wine cellar) • Skilled violinist, horseman, amateur scientist, and a devoted reader • His book collection became the core of the Library of Congress • Founded the University of Virginia (1819)

9. Jefferson’s Philosophy • Jefferson’s 1st Inaugural Address urged people to unite in spite of political parties (“We are all Republicans. We are all Federalists.”) • Wanted the US to remain a nation of small, independent farmers • Such a nation would uphold strong morals and values associated with country living • Hoped to avoid overcrowding of Europe • Jefferson behaved like a gentleman farmer • Tried to leave a modest imprint that symbolized a small central government

10. Undoing Federalist Programs • Jefferson tried to reduce the power of the Federal government • Congress allowed, at the urging of the President, the Alien and Sedition Acts to expire • Jefferson also released prisoners convicted due to the Act (among them was James Callender, a controversial pamphleteer) • Congress ended many unpopular taxes (including the unpopular whiskey tax) • Reduced number of Federal employees to cut costs of government, reduced size of military • Hamilton believed that public debt helped ensure that people that the government owed money to would make sure the government was run smoothly and in charge • Jefferson opposed public debt and used revenues from tariffs and land sales to reduce the national debt

11. Marshall and the Judiciary • Judiciary Act of 1801 – Adams appointed as many Federalist judges as he could between the election of 1800 and Jefferson’s inauguration in 1801 to pack the Court with Federalist judges • Judges had life-time appointments • Adams also appointed 45-year-old Federalist John Marshall to be Chief Justice • Chief Justice Marshall served as Chief Justice for over 3 decades and worked to uphold Federal authority and strengthen the Federal court system

12. Marbury v. Madison (1803) • William Marbury was one of Adams’s last-minute appointments (justice of the peace for the District of Columbia) • Secretary of State James Madison was supposed to install Marbury in his position, but he refused to give him the job • Marbury sued • Supreme Court ruled that the law under which Marbury sued (Judiciary Act of 1789) was unconstitutional because it enlarged the power or jurisdiction of the court illegally • Judiciary Act of 1789 is the first law passed by Congress to be declared unconstitutional • This decision helped to establish judicial review, the idea that the court has the final say in interpreting the Constitution • Marshall – Court gets to say what the law is • Jefferson and Madison were mad that Marshall grabbed this power for the Supreme Court but happy he had decided the case in their favor • Marshall helped to create a lasting balance of power between the 3 branches by demonstrating the strength of the judicial branch