Jeffersonian America Jeffersonian Philosophy and establishment of Judicial
Jeffersonian America Jeffersonian Philosophy and establishment of Judicial Review
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 of 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.
• 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 Judicial Review – reviewing decisions of other branches and deciding it is constitutional ▫ 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
Quote inscribed on the wall of the Supreme Court building - Washington, D. C.
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