Our 3rd President

Jefferson’s Presidency

Jefferson wanted• greater democracy

• smaller role for the Federal Government

Economic Policies•Keep the Federal debt low.

−Sec. of Treas. Gallatin reduced spending.

−Gov’t. should take a laissez faire approach. Allow businesses and markets to operate without gov’t. interference.

Less Active Government•Government only there for protection of citizens.

•Reduced government departments and size of departments.

•Reduced military size.

•Cut federal budget.

•Repealed Whiskey Tax.

•Pardoned Sedition Act convictions.

•Repealed Alien Act.

Some Federalist policies left in place

•Bank of United States

•State debts paid.

•Many Federalists kept gov’t. jobs

The Supreme Court problem for Jefferson

During Adams’ Presidency, Federalist controlled Congress passed a law adding more judges to the Supreme Court.

Adams made these appointments (all Federalists) after Jefferson was elected, but before he was inaugurated.

The last appointment was named Marbury. It was Adams’ last day.

The 1800 Congress, now mostly Republicans, hated the appointment. They called him a “midnight judge.”

•Jefferson told James Madison (his Sec. of State) not to deliver his appointment papers.

•Marbury sued Madison.

The Judicial Act said that cases against federal officials ( like Madison) had to go to the Supreme Court.

•Supreme Court Chief Justice Marshall( a Federalist appointed by Adams) said that the Judiciary Act was unconstitutional, anyway.

Marbury v. Madison was both good and bad for Jefferson.

•Marshall had ruled against Marbury.

•The decision gave much more power to the Supreme Court to throw out laws passed by Congress.

Marshall set a precedent.

•This is called Judicial Review.

Chapter 10 Section 2

Trouble in New Orleans

•Vital to the U.S. for shipping and holding, Washington had worked out use of the port w/ Spain (Pinckney Treaty).

Questions about New Orleans

Spain returned N.O. to France in 1800.

Would Napoleon want to take over here, too?

Haiti’s revolution diverted his attentions long enough for Jefferson to make him an offer for the port.

•Would he take $10 Million for New Orleans?

The Surprising Counter-Offer

•Talleyrand:How would you like to buy ALL of Louisiana?

•Livingston: How about $4 Million?

•Talleyrand: Too low. See me tomorrow.

What a Deal!

•Next day: Livingston buys ALL of Louisiana for $15 Million (The Louisiana Purchase)

Wait a minute…Is this Constitutional?

•Jefferson decided to call the land deal a treaty and Congress could approve it.

•They also appropriated the money for an expedition by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore what Jefferson had bought.

•While staying with the Mandans in the plains of North Dakota, they met Sacagawea and her French Canadian husband. She helped them negotiate with other Indians, including the Shoshone tribes.

•During their trip across the Rockies, they crossed the Continental Divide. They brought back invaluable information about people, animals, land, and vegetation along the way.

•Zebulon Pike explored present-day Colorado and New Mexico.

•Pike’s Peak in Colorado is named for him.

•The first westward settlement was mainly along the MS River, and particularly, New Orleans. Louisiana had a large enough population for statehood by 1812.