1. Jefferson Becomes President
Chapter 8, Section 1
Jefferson Becomes President

2. The Election of 1800 Federalists Democratic-Republicans
John Adams and Charles Pinckney candidates
Democratic-Republicans
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
Both parties believed that the election outcome was vital to the nation’s survival

3. The Election of 1800 Campaigning Federalist arguments
Unlike today, where candidates travel and give speeches, presidential candidates in 1800 made their arguments in letters and newspaper editorials
Federalist arguments
Painted Thomas Jefferson as a pro-French radical
Warned that electing him would result in violence in chaos
Stated that his interest in science and philosophy would destroy organized religion

4. The Election of 1800 Democratic-Republican arguments Election Results
Portrayed John Adams as a royalist
Harshly criticized the Alien and Sedition Acts
Warned that John Adams would use the newly created American military to limit the rights of the common man
Election Results
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied at 73 votes
John Adams received 65 votes and Pinckney received 64

5. The Election of 1800 Result Problems
Under the Constitution at the time, the two candidates with the most votes became President and Vice President
Because of the tie, the decision went tot the House of Representatives, as per the Constitution
House of Representatives was also deadlocked
Vote after vote resulted in a tie
Thomas Jefferson finally won the election on the 36th vote
Marked the first time that one party had replaced another in power in the United States
Problems with the voting system led to the 12th Amendment
Created a separate ballot for President and Vice President

7. Jefferson’s Policies
Very different from President George Washington and President John Adams
Different ideas
Both Washington and Adams favored a strong, central government while Thomas Jefferson supported states’ rights
Sought to limit the powers of government
Different Style
Thomas Jefferson was less formal than his predecessors

8. Jefferson is Inaugurated
Americans were excited about Thomas Jefferson
People traveled to Washington D.C. to hear his inauguration address to the nation
President Thomas Jefferson delivered his speech in a quiet voice
Made it clear that he supported the will of the majority
Stressed the need for limited government and protection of civil liberties

9. Jefferson in Office
President Thomas Jefferson faced the task of putting his political ideas into practice
Selected James Madison as his secretary of state and Albert Gallatin as secretary of treasury
Jefferson would benefit from the Democratic-Republican controlled congress
Allowed the Alien and Sedition Acts to expire
Jefferson lowered military spending and reduced the size of the army and navy
Hoped that the money saved would help pay for the national debt

10. Jefferson in Office Government in 1801
Consisted of only a few hundred people
President Thomas Jefferson hoped to keep it that way, believing that the primary functions of the federal government were:
Protect the nation from foreign threats
Deliver mail
Collect Customs Duties
Jefferson did realize that some Federalist policies-such as the Bank of the United States-needed to be kept

11. Marbury v. Madison
Even though the Democratic-Republicans controlled Congress, Federalists controlled the federal judiciary
Judiciary Act of 1801
Created 16 new federal judgeships filled with Federalists
Done just before Adams’s term of office ended
Some of the appointments were made so late that the documents that authorized them had not been delivered by the time Adams left office

12. Marbury v. Madison William Marbury
Did not receive his appointment documents until after Adams had left office
When Thomas Jefferson took office, William Marbury demanded the documents
On Jefferson’s advice, however, the new secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver them
Jefferson argued that the appointment of “midnight judges” was not valid

13. Marbury v. Madison
Marbury sued, asking the Supreme Court to order Madison the deliver the appointment papers
Marbury argued that the Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the court the power to do so
John Marshall, a Federalist appointed by John Adams as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, agreed to hear the case
Jefferson protested because John Marshall was one of his political rivals

14. Marbury v. Madison Marbury v. Madison
Helped establish the Supreme Court’s power to check the power of the other branches of government
The Court’s Opinion
The Constitution gave the Supreme Court authority to hear only certain types of cases and Marbury’s request was not one of them.
Therefore, the law that Marbury’s cases depended on was declared unconstitutional

15. Marbury v. Madison
By denying Marbury’s case, the Court avoided a direct confrontation with Jefferson’s administration
Established the power of judicial review
The power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional