THE ELECTION OF 1800 AND THE JEFFERSON JEFFERSON

ERAERA

Democratic-Democratic-RepublicansRepublicans

Thomas Jefferson (VA)

Aaron Burr (NY)

John AdamsJohn Adams (MA)

Charles Pinckney (SC)

FederalistsFederalistsELECTION OF 1800ELECTION OF 1800

• There is no concern for no concern for popular vote popular vote at this time

• Electors meet in Philadelphia to choose president

• No single candidate No single candidate won a majority of won a majority of electoral voteselectoral votes• Results in a tie between

Jefferson and Burr

• The Constitution called for election election to be decided by the House decided by the House of Representatives of Representatives

Presidential Candidate

PartyHome State

Popular VoteElectoral

VoteCount Percentage

Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republican

Virginia 41,330 61.4% 73

Aaron BurrDemocratic-Republican

New York — — 73

John Adams Federalist Mass. 25,952 38.6% 65

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

FederalistSouth Carolina

— — 64

John Jay Federalist New York — — 1

Total 67,282 100.0% 276

Needed to win 70

ALEXANDER HAMILTON’S INFLUENCE

• Hamilton had influence among Federalist politicians

• He disliked both Jefferson and Burr, but he distrusted Burr • “Jefferson has some pretentions to

character . . . Mr. Burr is one of the most unprincipled men in the United States . . . bankrupt beyond redemption.”

• Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton encouraged Federalists encouraged Federalists in the House to support to support JeffersonJefferson

• Jefferson is elected on the Jefferson is elected on the 3636thth ballot (votevote)• Burr becomes V.P.Burr becomes V.P.

• John Adams appointed many Adams appointed many Federalist judges between Federalist judges between the 1800 election & the 1800 election & Jefferson’s inaugurationJefferson’s inauguration

• Adams supposedly remained at his desk well into the night signing the commissions of the “midnight” judges

• Ensured the federal gov’t federal gov’t would have a would have a strong Federalist presenceFederalist presence

• Sect. of State JamesJames Madison was ordered to Madison was ordered to block Adams’ remaining block Adams’ remaining judge judge commissions

• One of the new judges (William MarburyMarbury) was angered & asked the asked the Supreme Court to order Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his Madison to deliver his commissioncommission

• Marbury used the Judiciary used the Judiciary Act of 1789Act of 1789 that set-up the court system as the basis of as the basis of his lawsuithis lawsuit

SUPREME COURT’S OPINIONSUPREME COURT’S OPINION• Supreme Court Chief Justice Chief Justice

John Marshall John Marshall (appointed by former President John Adams) gave the court’s opiniongave the court’s opinion

• Opinion identified which cases the Court could hear directly & this was not one of them

• The case should have first should have first been heard in a lower courtbeen heard in a lower court

• Marshall ruled the Judiciary Judiciary Act was unconstitutional & Act was unconstitutional & voidvoid

• Established judicial review

Judicial Review – Judicial Review – reviewing decisions of reviewing decisions of other branches & other branches & deciding if it is deciding if it is constitutionalconstitutional

Inscribed in the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

THE WEST IN 1800

• 3 European countries claimed land on the west coast• Spain – California from San

Diego to San Francisco• Russia – Along the coast to

Alaska• Britain – claimed land in

the region north of the 42° parallel

• France took Louisiana back from Spain in 1800• Spain had closed the port

of New Orleans to Americans

• Ruled by Napoleon Ruled by Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte• Wants to colonize American

territory

• Defeated in the West Indies and unable to invade North America

• To avoid hostilities, JJefferson efferson offered to buy New Orleans offered to buy New Orleans since it was closed by Spain

• France offeredFrance offered to sell all of to sell all of Louisiana TerritoryLouisiana Territory

• Jefferson was torn by his personal beliefs versus what could help the country

Louisiana Territory Louisiana Territory purchased from purchased from

FranceFrance

Treaty ratified in

18031803

Constitution said nothing about acquiring new Constitution said nothing about acquiring new territoryterritory

Jefferson knew it was important to explore and know the land and get there first to claim

bordersAsked Congress for $2,500 to fund a westward expedition

Contracted Meriwether Lewis to Meriwether Lewis to leadlead

He chose friend He chose friend William Clark William Clark to co-

lead it

Lewis & Clark brought brought on Sacagawea as a on Sacagawea as a

guideguide

Doubled the size of the U.S.A.Doubled the size of the U.S.A.

CostCost less than 5 cents/acre= less than 5 cents/acre= $15 million$15 million