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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