In this section you
will learn how the
United States chose
its leaders and
established its
policies
PAGES 278
Means let the people do as
they wish. Doing what you
want to do
Taxes on foreign
imported goods
Constitution is the supreme law of land
When there is a conflict between the
constitution and any other law, Const.
must be followed
The judicial branch has a duty to
uphold the Constitution
1800
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
contend for Presidency
1801
Judiciary Act expands court system
Mar 1801
Jefferson is inaugurated
1803
Marbury v. Madison sets precedent
for judicial review
Federalist supported John
Adams and Charles Pickney
of S. Carolina for V.P.
Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson
for president and Aaron Burr of New York as
his running mate.
Candidates and
their friends
wrote letters to
leading citizens
and newspapers
to spread their
views
Candidates and
their supporters
spread their views
through television,
internet, phone,
etc…
The election was deadlocked.
Both Jefferson and Adams each
received 73 votes.
The H.O.R had to decide the
election.
This time the electors voted for
each presidential and vpresidential candidate
individually rather than voting for
the party’s candidates as a team
The Federalist supported Burr to
prevent the election of Jefferson.
Hamilton distrusted Burr but was
not a friend of Jefferson either.
To prevent another
showdown between a
presidential and a vicepresidential candidate,
congress passed the 12th
Amendment to the
Constitution in 1803. This
amendment (1804) requires
electors to vote for the
president and vice president
on separate ballots.
Jefferson became president
Thomas Jefferson was
inaugurated on march 4,
1801. In his inaugural
Address Jefferson tried to
close the gap between
the political parties.
Supported states’ rights
Believed in independent farmers
Ownership of property
Expanding the nation westward to acquire more land
Federal Government should be kept small
Distrusted standing armies / reduce the size of the
military
Reduce national debt that Federalist had left
Scaled down military expenses
When Jefferson
entered office, he
surrounded himself
with men who
shared is Rep.
principles.
Sec. of State James Madison
Sec. of Treasury Albert Gallatin
The new government ended the 2 unpopular Federalist
measures.
Sedition Act & Naturalization Act
Albert Gallatin who was
secretary of treasury
aimed to reduce the
national debt.
They cut the army by 1/3
Reduced the navy from
25 ships to 7 ships
Repealed the whisky tax
Customs duties - taxes
on foreign imports
Jefferson thought that
the main responsibility
of the national
government should be
limited to delivering the
mail, collecting
customs, duties, and
conducting a census
every 10 years
In 1801 The Federalist had passed the Judiciary Act. This act set
up regional courts for the U.S. with 16 judges and many other
officials.
When Adams was about ready to leave office, he made hundreds
of appointments to these positions. Congress, who were mainly
Federalist, approved the presidents appointment.
Adams had asked John Marshall to serve as Chief Justice of the
US. Adams & Marshal worked around the clock in the final hours
of the Federalist government processing papers for these judicial
appointments. The appointment would take effect, once the
commissions (papers) were delivered to these “midnight” judges.
When Jefferson found out, he told Sec. of State Madison NOT TO
DELIVER THEM!
One of the commissions was William Marbury!