THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION – 1797-1801
1. Under Washington, the 1st Judiciary Act
of 1789 was passed which established
the Supreme Court, district courts, and
circuit courts of appeals.
2. 1797 – The XYZ Affair –
• French were angered over Jay’s Treaty
and began seizing ships.
• Adams sent delegates to France to avoid
war.
• French leaders known as XYZ met with
delegates and tried to bribe them to
meet with the French Foreign Minister.
• Delegates refused to pay and tension
increased between the U.S. and the
French.
3. 1798 – The Alien & Sedition Acts –
• President gained the right to imprison or
deport citizens of other countries.
• Anyone who wrote, published, or printed
anything against the government could
be jailed or fined.
• Naturalization Act – increased number of
years needed to become a citizen.
4. 1798 – Virginia & Kentucky Resolution –
• Groups of Jeffersonian Republicans from
these two states passed legislation that
attempted to nullify federal law if it
violated the Constitution.
5. 1800 – Gabriel Prosser’s Rebellion –
• Slave rebellion in Virginia.
6. Land Act of 1800 –
• To develop the new lands of the NW
Territory, people could now buy land on
credit.
7. 1800 – Revolution of 1800 –
• Election of 1800 that marked the 1st
peaceful transfer of power from 1 political
party to another.
• Jefferson beats Adams due to
domestic/foreign tension that developed
under Adams.
• Election went to the House where
Jefferson won on the 36th ballot.
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THE JEFFERSON ADMINISTRATION – 18011809
1. Judiciary Act of 1801 –
• Decreased the number of Supreme Court
judges and increased the number of
federal judges to limit Jefferson’s
appointments to the Supreme Court.
• Also done to appoint Federalists to federal
judges such as William Marbury.
2. 1803 – Marbury v. Madison & Judicial
Review under John Marshall –
• One of Adam’s “midnight judges” failed to
get commission from Madison (Jefferson’s
Sec. of State).
• Marbury sued and it went to Supreme
Court.
• Marshall ruled that the Judiciary Act was
unconstitutional. This was the first act of
Judicial Review.
3. 1803 – Louisiana Purchase –
• Delegates sent to purchase valuable city of
New Orleans.
• Seeking money to battle the English,
Napoleon sold entire territory for 15 million.
• Cause another debate regarding strict vs.
loose construction.
4. 1804 – Lewis & Clark Expeditions –
• Look for river routes to the Pacific, make
contact with Native Americans, and gather
info about natural resources.
5. 1807 – Chesapeake-Leopard Affair –
• British ship attacked the USS Chesapeake killing
American citizens.
• Increased tensions between the US and Great
Britain.
6. The Embargo of 1807 –
• Jefferson outraged by the attack placed an
embargo on trade with all foreign countries
instead of war.
• Backfired and only hurt the American economy.
States in New England threatened to secede and
the Embargo was repealed in 1809.
• Jefferson 2nd term was ruined.