The Jefferson EraPart 1
• John Adams appointed as many Federalist judges as he could between the election of 1800 and Jefferson’s inauguration
• Adams supposedly remained at his desk until well into the night signing the commissions of the “midnight” judges.
• Packed the courts full of Federalist judges who would serve for life
Adams and the Midnight Judges – The Judiciary Act of 1801
• Jefferson told Secretary of State James Madison to block Adams’ remaining judge commissions
• One of the new judges (William Marbury) was angered & asked the Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver his comission
• Marbury used the Judiciary Act of 1789 that set-up the court system as the basis of his lawsuit
Supreme Court’s Opinion • Supreme Court Chief Justice
John Marshall (appointed by former President John Adams) gave the court’s opinion
• Opinion identified which cases the Court could hear directly & this was not one of them
▫ The case should have first been heard in a lower court
• Marshall ruled the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional and void
• Established judicial review
Judicial ReviewJudicial Review – – reviewing decisions reviewing decisions of other branches of other branches
and deciding if it is and 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
• France took Louisiana back from Spain in 1800
▫ Spain closed the port to Americans
• France ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte▫ Wants to colonize American
territory• Bonaparte invades territories
in West Indies▫ Miserably lost the battle
• To avoid hostilities, Jefferson offered to buy New Orleans since it was closed by Spain▫ France countered & offered
to sell all of Louisiana Territory
• Jefferson was torn by his personal beliefs versus what could help the country
Louisiana Territory Louisiana Territory purchase from
FranceTreaty
ratified in 18031803
Jefferson worried that Constitution said nothing Constitution said nothing about acquiring new territoryabout acquiring new territory
Jefferson worried that Constitution said nothing Constitution said nothing about acquiring new territoryabout acquiring new territory
Jefferson knew it was important to know the land & get there first
Jefferson knew it was important to know the land & get there first
Asked Congress for $2,500 to fund expedition Contracted Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis to lead
Lewis chose a friend William William Clark Clark to come with
Lewis & Clark brought on SacagaweaSacagawea as a guide
Doubled the size of the U.S.A.Doubled the size of the U.S.A.
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