Marbury vs. Madison & Louisiana Purchase

Marbury vs. Madison (What you have to know) Judicial Review – The Supreme Court has the authority to check the power of the President & Congress. The Supreme Court can declare laws (acts) passed by Congress and enforced by the President as “unconstitutional.” This makes the laws void!

Louisiana Purchase (Jefferson’s Gamble) New Orleans was an important port, where over half of American exports traveled through (access to Atlantic Ocean & at the mouth of Mississippi River). Spain traded Louisiana Territory to France (secret Treaty).

Louisiana Purchase cont. Just before the trade happened – Spain closed down the Port of New Orleans & the lower Mississippi River to American shippers. President Jefferson sends Robert Livingston & James Monroe to go to France to work out a deal.

Louisiana Purchase Cont. Tallyrand (representative for Napoleon) offers to sell Louisiana to America for $15 million. Napoleon needed cash quick because of the war with England and the slave revolt in Hispanola.

Francois Dominique Touissant L’Ouverture

Louisiana Purchase Cont. Jefferson is not sure if it is “Constitutional” to make such a purchase as President. He is not sure if he has the “Power.” He makes purchase anyway—for c. $.04 per acre--Senate approves purchase--Doubles the size of the U.S.

Lewis and Clark Jefferson needs some trusted men to explore the new territory Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery leave St. Louis in May of 1804

Map of Expedition

Native Encounters

Journey’s Highlights Spent the Winter with the Mandan People—contracted STDs Hired an interpreter and his pregnant wife to help with communicating with Indians— Sacagawea Had a tense encounter with the Teton Sioux, but made it through unharmed and continued on

Sacagawea

Journey’s Highlights Shoshone Indians sold them horses that allowed the Corps to portage and survive the Rockies even in the dead of winter Reached the Pacific Ocean in late 1805—realized there was no Northwest Passage across the continent