Jeffersonian Philosophy and establishment of Judicial Review Jeffersonian America Jeffersonian Philosophy and establishment of Judicial Review

The Death of George Washington George Washington died December 14, 1799, after contracting an illness from a ride at Mt. Vernon during a winter storm He was only 3 years removed from the presidency His death left a hole in the Federalist Party that it could not overcome in 1800 “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” –Edmund Randolph delivering Washington’s Eulogy

The Election of . There is no popular vote at this time Electors chosen by the state legislature meet in Philadelphia to choose president No single candidate won a majority of electoral votes Results in a tie between Jefferson and Burr The Constitution called for election to be decided by the House of Representatives Candidate Electoral vote Thomas Jefferson 73 Aaron Burr John Adams 65 Charles Pinckney 64

A Renaissance Man – The Sage of Monticello Thomas Jefferson was more than just a lawyer and politician He was an avocational architect, a skilled violinist, amateur scientist, avid horseman and a voracious reader Jefferson advised the designers of the city of Washington, D.C. and created his home, Monticello, in Virginia

Jefferson’s Contradictions He was born into wealth and privilege yet he championed the rule by virtue and merit and the life of small farmers Thomas Jefferson was a wealthy planter that owned many slaves yet wrote that “all men are created equal” Although many southern leaders freed their slaves upon their death, Jefferson did not

Jeffersonian Ideals Jefferson was convinced that the future of America rested in the creation of a nation of small independent farmers He believed an agrarian population would better support the ideals of a democratic and republican government Jefferson feared the result of Americans crowding into cities as had happened in Europe

Undoing Federalist Policies Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans believed the federal government should have less power Allowed Alien and Sedition Acts to expire Freed people convicted under the acts Abolished many taxes Including the Whiskey Tax Reduced the size of the military Reduced national debt using money from tariffs and land sales

Adams and the Midnight Judges – The Judiciary Act of 1801 John Adams used this act to appoint 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 also appointed a new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, a cousin of Thomas Jefferson and a lifelong Federalist, committed to strengthening the federal government.

Marbury vs. madison Jefferson told Secretary of State James Madison not to deliver 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 of 1789 was unconstitutional and void Established judicial review Judicial Review – reviewing decisions of other branches and deciding if it is constitutional

Quote inscribed on the wall of the Supreme Court building - Washington, D.C.