SECTION

1 Jefferson Becomes
TEKS 5A, 5C, 18A, 18C, 22A President
What You Will Learn…
If YOU were there...
Main Ideas You are a Maryland voter from a frontier district—and you are tired!
1. The election of 1800 marked
For days, you and your friends have been wrangling over the presi-
the first peaceful transition in
power from one political party dential election. Who shall it be—John Adams or Thomas Jefferson?
to another.
Your vote depends on your personal judgment.
2. President Jefferson’s beliefs
about the federal government
were reflected in his policies.
Which candidate would you choose for president?
3. Marbury v. Madison increased
the power of the judicial
branch of government.

BUILDing BACKGROUND John Adams had not been a popular

The Big Idea president, but many still admired his ability and high principles. Both he
Thomas Jefferson’s election and Thomas Jefferson had played major roles in winning independence
began a new era in American and shaping the new government. Now, political differences sharply
government.
divided the two men and their supporters. In the election of 1800, voters
were also divided.
Key Terms and People
John Adams, p. 266
Thomas Jefferson, p. 266
John Marshall, p. 270 The Election of 1800
Marbury v. Madison, p. 270 In the presidential election of 1800, Federalists John Adams and
judicial review, p. 270 Charles C. Pinckney ran against Democratic-Republicans Thomas
Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Each party believed that the American
republic’s survival depended upon the success of their candidates.
With so much at stake, the election was hotly contested.
Use the graphic organizer online to Unlike today, candidates did not travel around giving speeches.
take notes on the election of 1800, Instead, the candidates’ supporters made their arguments in letters
Jefferson’s beliefs and policies, and newspaper editorials. Adams’s supporters claimed that Jeffer-
and how the power of the judicial
branch changed during Jefferson’s
son was a pro-French radical. Put Jefferson in office, they warned,
time in office. and the violence and chaos of the French Revolution would sure-
ly follow in the United States. Plus, Federalists argued, Jefferson’s
interest in science and philosophy proved that he wanted to destroy
organized religion.
Democratic-Republican newspapers responded that Adams
wanted to crown himself king. What else, they asked, could be the
purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts? Republicans also hinted
that Adams would use the newly created permanent army to limit
Americans’ rights.

266 Chapter 8
 The Election of 1800

John Adams Thomas Jefferson

and the Federalists and the Democratic-
• Rule by wealthy class Republicans
• Strong federal government
• Emphasis on manufacturing • Rule by the people
• Loose interpretation of the Constitution • Strong state governments
• British alliance • Emphasis on agriculture
• Strict interpretation of the Constitution
• French alliance

Adams receives 65 votes, and Jefferson and running mate

Pinckney receives 64 votes. Election Results Burr receive 73 votes each.

• Peaceful change of political power from one party to another

• The tied race led to the Twelfth Amendment (1804), which created
a separate ballot for president and vice president.

When the election results came in, one party had replaced another in power in
Jefferson and Burr had won 73 electoral votes the United States. It is seen by some as the
each to 65 for Adams and 64 for Pinckney. The end of the early republic that began with the
Democratic-Republicans had won the elec- failure of the Articles of Confederation and
tion, but the tie between Jefferson and Burr creation of the Constitution. The election
caused a problem. Under the Constitution at signaled that the new system of government
that time, the two candidates with the most would carry the nation through a peaceful
votes became president and vice president. transition of political power.
The decision went to the House of Represen- The problems with the voting system led
tatives, as called for in the Constitution. Congress to propose the Twelfth Amendment.
The House, like the electoral college, also This amendment created a separate ballot for
deadlocked. Days went by as vote after vote president and vice president.
was called, each ending in ties. Exhausted
Reading Check Analyzing Information
lawmakers napped on the floor.
Jefferson finally won on the thirty-sixth What was significant about Jefferson’s victory?
vote. The election marked the first time that
The jefferson era 267
 Primary Source

speech
Jefferson’s “oneLetmind
us, then, fellow citizens, unite with one heart and
. . . [E]very difference of opinion is not a dif-
Inaugural Address ference of principle. We have called by different names
brethren1 of the same principle. We are all republicans; we
On March 4, 1801, Thomas By using phrases like
Jefferson gave his first these, Jefferson tries
are all federalists.
”
inaugural address. In to reassure his politi-
the following excerpt, cal opponents. “Still one thing more, fellow citizens, a wise and frugal
Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one
2

Jefferson describes another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their
his thoughts on Here Jefferson states his own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not
the nation’s future. opinion of what is essential take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This

”
to good government. is the sum of good government . . .
1. brethren: brothers 2. frugal: thrifty
This phrase shows Jefferson’s deter- ANALYSIS
mination to keep government small. skill ANALYZING PRIMARY SOURCES
What words and phrases indicate Jefferson’s
support for a small national government?

Jefferson’s Policies
When Jefferson took office, he brought with the will of the majority. He also stressed the
him a style and political ideas different from need for a limited government and the pro-
those of Adams and Washington. Jefferson tection of civil liberties.
was less formal than his predecessors, and he From these humble surroundings in which
wanted to limit the powers of government. Jefferson delivered his speech, Washington
eventually grew into a large and impressive
Jefferson Is Inaugurated city. Over the years, the Capitol and the
Americans looked forward with excitement executive mansion were joined by other state
The Impact to Jefferson’s first speech as president. People buildings and monuments. Jefferson, who
Today from across the nation gathered in the new had long dreamed of a new national capital
A monument to capital, Washington, D.C., to hear him. Curi- that would be independent of the interests of
Thomas Jefferson
was completed
ous travelers looked with pride at the par- any one state, was pleased to be a part of this
in 1943 and tially completed Capitol building and at the process of building a federal city.
is one of the executive mansion (not yet called the White
most frequently Jefferson in Office
House). The two buildings dominated the
visited sites in
Washington, D.C. surrounding homes and forests. President Jefferson faced the task of putting
Small businesses dotted the landscape. his republican ideas into practice. One of his
At one of these, a modest boardinghouse, first actions was to select the members of his
the president-elect was putting the finishing cabinet. His choices included James Madison
touches on his speech. On the morning of as secretary of state and Albert Gallatin as sec-
March 4, 1801, he left the boardinghouse retary of the treasury.
and walked to the Capitol. The leader of a Jefferson would also benefit from the
republic, Jefferson believed, should not ride Democratic-Republican Party’s newly won
in fancy carriages. control of both houses of Congress. At Jef-
Jefferson read his speech in a quiet voice. ferson’s urging, Congress allowed the hated
He wanted to make it clear that he supported Alien and Sedition Acts to expire. Jefferson

268 Chapter 8
lowered military spending and reduced the Marbury v. Madison
size of the army. The navy was cut to seven Although Republicans controlled the presi-
active ships. Jefferson and Gallatin hoped that dency and Congress, Federalists dominated
saving this money would allow the govern- the federal judiciary. In an effort to continue
ment to repay the national debt. Jefferson their control over the judiciary, Federalist
also asked Gallatin to find ways to get rid of legislators passed the Judiciary Act of 1801
domestic taxes, like the tax on whiskey. The shortly before their terms of office ended.
Democratic-Republican–led Congress passed This act created 16 new federal judgeships
the laws needed to carry out these policies. that President Adams filled with Federalists
The entire national government in 1801 before leaving office. The Republican press
consisted only of several hundred people. called these people midnight judges, arguing
Jefferson preferred to keep it that way. He that Adams had packed the judiciary with A cademic
believed that the primary functions of the V ocabulary
Federalists the night before he left office.
federal government were to protect the functions
Some of these appointments were made uses or purposes
nation from foreign threats, deliver the mail, so late that the documents that authorized
and collect customs duties. them had not been delivered by the time
Jefferson did recognize that some of Adams left office. This led to controversy
the Federalist policies—such as the creation once Jefferson took office. William Marbury,
of the Bank of the United States—should named as a justice of the peace by Presi-
be kept. Although Jefferson had battled dent Adams, did not receive his documents
Hamilton over the Bank, as president he before Adams left office. When Jefferson took
agreed to leave it in place. office, Marbury demanded the documents. On
Jefferson’s advice, however, the new secre-
Reading Check Summarizing What policy tary of state, James Madison, refused to deliv-
changes did Democratic-Republicans introduce, er them. Jefferson argued that the appoint-
and which Federalist policies did Jefferson keep? ment of the midnight judges was not valid.

The Court’s Ruling Why It Matters

The Court ruled that the law Marbury Marbury v. Madison was important
based his claim on was unconstitutional. for several reasons. It confirmed the
Supreme Court’s power to declare acts of
The Court’s Reasoning
The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Congress unconstitutional. By
Supreme Court the authority to hear a doing so, it established the Court as
Marbury v. Madison wide variety of cases, including those like the final authority on the Constitution.
(1803) Marbury’s. But the Supreme Court ruled This helped make the judicial branch
that Congress did not have the power of government equal to the other
Background of the Case Shortly
to make such a law. Why? Because the two branches. Chief Justice John Marshall
before Thomas Jefferson took of-
Constitution limits the types of cases the and later federal judges would use this
fice, John Adams had appointed
William Marbury to be a justice Supreme Court can hear. Thus, the law power of judicial review as a check on the
of the peace. Adams had signed was in conflict with the Constitution and legislative and executive branches.
Marbury’s commission, but it had to be struck down.
was never delivered. Marbury sued ANALYSIS
to force Madison to give him skill Analyzing Information
the commission. 1. What do you think it means to be the final authority on the Constitution?
2. How did Marbury v. Madison affect the Constitution’s system of checks
and balances?

The jefferson era 269

 Marbury brought suit, ask- John Marshall
ing the Supreme Court to order
Madison to deliver the papers. tant, it established the Court’s
Marbury claimed that the power of judicial review, the
Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the power to declare an act of Con-
Court the power to do so. gress unconstitutional. Mar-
John Marshall, a Federalist shall and later federal judges
appointed by John Adams, was would use this power to make
the chief justice of the Court. the judiciary a much stronger
Marshall and President Jefferson part of the national government.
disagreed about many political Under Marshall’s leadership, the
issues. When Marshall agreed to hear Court gained additional power by
Marbury’s case, Jefferson protested, saying beginning to issue only one decision in a
that the Federalists “have retired into the case. In British courts, each justice provided a
judiciary as a stronghold.” Marshall wrote separate decision. The system of one decision
the Court’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison, gave the courts more authority. In response to
a case that helped establish the Supreme Marbury, Jefferson urged Congress to impeach
Court’s power to check the power of the Justice Samuel Chase. The Congress held the
other branches of government. The Con- impeachment trial, but Chase was acquitted.
stitution, Marshall noted, gave the Court Reading Check Analyzing Information
authority to hear only certain types of cases.
Why was Marbury v. Madison an important ruling?
A request like Marbury’s was not one of them.
The law that Marbury’s case depended upon
was, therefore, unconstitutional. S Ummary and p review A peaceful
In denying Marbury’s request in this way, transfer of power took place after the
the Court avoided a direct c­ onfrontation with election of 1800. In the next section you
Jefferson’s administration. But more impor- will read about the Louisiana Purchase.

Section 1 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ

Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People ruling affect future actions by Congress? How might
1. a. Identify What were the political parties in the it affect the lives of Americans?
election of 1800, and who were their candidates? Critical Thinking
b. Analyze Why was the election of 1800 significant? 4. Categorizing Review your notes on Jefferson’s
What years made up the era of the early republic? What beliefs and policies. Then copy the graphic organiz-
caused the early republic to form, and what were some er below and show how Jefferson brought change
of its effects? through his policies.
2. a. Describe What ideas for government did Jefferson as President
Thomas Jefferson stress in his inaugural address? Federalist Policies Republican Policies
b. Compare and Contrast What similarities and
differences did Jefferson’s Republican government
have with the previous Federalist one?
c. Elaborate Defend Jefferson’s preference for
keeping the national government small. Focus on Writing
3. a. Identify How did John Marshall help lead the
new nation? 5. Gathering Ideas about a Person’s
b. Draw Conclusions Why is the power of judicial ­Accomplishments Look back through what you
review important? have just read to see what you have learned about
c. Predict How might the Marbury v. Madison Jefferson’s decisions in office. Make a list of the traits
you think each decision shows in Jefferson.
270 Chapter 8