Political Beliefs
• “The government that governs least, governs
best”
• Believed in states rights, not a strong national
government
• U.S. should be an agrarian republic
– People shouldn’t be dependent on others for their
livelihood
• Wanted to mend political rifts
– “We are all Federalists, we are all Republicans”
Changes to the office of President
• Presidential Messages ended
– Woodrow Wilson next Pres to give addresses
• Alien and Sedition Acts Reversal
– Most had expired, but reversed residency
requirements & pardoned those convicted
• Excise Taxes
– Repealed them
• The Army, Navy, & Govt
– Reduced them
• The White House
– 1st to live there
Things that remained the same
• Dealing with the debt
– Kept Hamilton’s plans in place to pay off the debt
– Reduced the debt from $87 million to $50 million
• Tariffs
• The Bank of the United States
John Marshall
• Became Supreme Court
Chief Justice in 1801
• Appointed by J. Adams
• Held the position for 34
years
• Worked to establish the
powers of the Judicial Branch
– Judicial Review
Judiciary Act of 1801
• Passed by the Federalists to maintain control over the
Judicial Branch 19 days before Adams left office
• Created new Judgeships and other positions
• Adams rushed to fill the positions
• “Midnight Judges” – men who were last minute (literally)
appointments by Adams
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
• William Marbury was one of
the Midnight Judges (3/3/01)
• His commission was supposed
to be delivered by the new
Secretary of State James
Madison
• Jefferson & Madison were
angry about the Midnight
Judges
• Madison refuses to deliver the
commission
• Marbury sues Madison for his
job
• Case goes to the Supreme Court
• Marshall makes the decision
• Marbury was entitled to the
position, but the Court did not
have the power to force Madison
to deliver the commission
• Found parts of the Judiciary Act
1789 unconstitutional
Judicial Review
• Concept established by the Marbury v. Madison case
• The Courts have the power to decide the
constitutionality of a law
• Constitutionality is whether or not a law violates the
Constitution
• If it does, it is not a valid law
Samuel Chase
• An associate justice of the Supreme
Court
– Was a Federalist
• Jefferson & D-Rs wanted to gain
more power in the Judicial Branch
• Tried to impeach him for his biased
opinions
• Failed – he hadn’t committed any
crimes
• Reassured the independence of the
Judicial Branch
Louisiana is returned to the French
• Treaty of San Ildefonso
(1800) returned
Louisiana to the French
• American access to New
Orleans is put into
jeopardy
Napoleon wants to sell Louisiana
• Failed to regain control of
Haiti
• Wanted to concentrate on
Europe
U.S. reasons for Purchasing
• Wanted to have access to New Orleans
• Jefferson’s agrarian society needed room for expansion
• James Monroe sent to Paris to negotiate the purchase
of New Orleans
• Was offered all of Louisiana
The Purchase
• Problem for Jefferson: Was this constitutional?
• Federalists argue no, D-R argue yes
• U.S. paid $15 million for 828,000 square miles
Lewis and Clark (1804-1806)
• Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark sent to explore the
territory
• Sacagawea helped
Tripolitan War (a.k.a. Barbary
War) (1801 – 1805)
• Barbary States (Algiers,
Tripoli, Tunis, & Morocco)
• Blackmailed countries to pay a
tribute for protection from
pirates
• Jefferson refused to continue
paying the tribute
• Pasha of Tripoli declared war • Inconclusive results:
– Barbary states sued for peace
• Jefferson orders the navy to
– U.S. would still pay a tribute for
defend American ships in the
protection
Mediterranean
• U.S. showed military strength
• Battles ensue
Dealing with the Napoleonic Wars
• Fighting continues between France & Britain
• Both sides want to end trade between the U.S.
& their enemy:
– Blockades created
– France continued seizing
American ships
– Britain continued seizing
American ships
– Britain Impressed American sailors
into the British navy
• British sailors began to desert the Royal Navy
for American merchant ships
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
• June 22, 1807
• HMS Leopard demanded to board the USS
Chesapeake to search for deserters
• Chesapeake refused
• Leopard fired on the Chesapeake and boarded
anyways
• 3 Americans died
•Jefferson’s Response:
- Forbade Br. ships to
dock in American ports.
- Ordered state governors
to call up as much as
100,000 militiamen.
Embargo Act (1807)
• Passed in response to
Chesapeake-Leopard affair
• Ended all exports from
the United States to
foreign nations
• Passed to pressure Britain
and France to recognize
American neutrality
• Exports dropped by 80% by 1808
• Problem:
– It hurt the U.S. more
– 1807: Exports worth $108 million
– 1808: Exports worth $22 million
Embargo Act (1807)
• Country thrown into a
depression
– New England hurt the most
– South & West had crops that
piled up
• Smuggling became
common
• Enforcement was difficult
• Jefferson had Congress
pass harsh enforcement
laws
• Very costly to enforce
• Congress repealed the Act 3 days
before Jefferson left office
Non-Intercourse Act (1809)
•
•
•
•
Replaced the Embargo Act
Forbid the export of goods with only Britain and France
Remained U. S. policy until 1812
Unexpected Consequences:
– N. Eng. was forced to become self-sufficient again [old
factories reopened]
– Laid the groundwork for US industrial power
– Jefferson, a critic of an industrial America, ironically
contributed to Hamilton’s view of the US