4.2 The Rise of Political Parties and the Era of Jefferson

First Party System

Presidency of Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson’s victory over John Adams in the election of 1800 was celebrated through everyday Americans’ material culture, including this victory banner. Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of American History.

• The Jay Treaty was a treaty signed between the United States and Great Britain in 1794, which aimed to settle outstanding issues from the American Revolution and to establish a framework for peaceful trade and relations between the two countries. The treaty was controversial, as it was seen by some as too favorable to Great Britain and not protective enough of American interests.
• The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of laws passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress in 1798, which aimed to crack down on anti-government sentiment and to limit the influence of immigrants in the United States. The Acts included measures to increase the residency requirement for citizenship, to give the president greater power to deport immigrants, and to make it a crime to criticize the government or its officials.

1. The creation of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: In 1802, Jefferson established the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect intellectual property and to encourage innovation and technological advancement.
2. The Lewis and Clark expedition: In 1803, Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition, which explored the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and established a route to the Pacific Ocean. The expedition helped to map and document the country's western territories and laid the foundation for further westward expansion.
3. The abolition of the international slave trade: In 1808, Jefferson signed a law that banned the international slave trade, making it illegal to import or export slaves to or from the United States. The law was a significant step towards the eventual abolition of slavery in the United States.
4. The Embargo Act: In 1807, Jefferson signed the Embargo Act, which prohibited American ships from sailing to foreign ports in an effort to protect American interests and to avoid getting drawn into the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France. The Act was unpopular and had negative economic consequences, and it was eventually replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act in 1809.
5. The abolition of the Federalist-controlled national bank: In 1811, Jefferson vetoed a bill to renew the charter of the national bank, which was controlled by the Federalist Party. The veto helped to weaken the power of the Federalist Party and contributed to the decline of the First Party System.

Marshall Supreme Court Cases

1. Marbury v. Madison (1803): In this landmark case, the Supreme Court established the principle of judicial review, which gives the Court the power to declare a law or government action unconstitutional.

1. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): In this case, the Court upheld the power of Congress to create a national bank, rejecting the argument that it exceeded the powers granted to Congress by the Constitution. The decision established the principle of implied powers, which allows Congress to pass laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its constitutional powers.
2. Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819): In this case, the Court ruled that a state could not alter the terms of a private contract without violating the Constitution's protection of private property rights. The decision established the principle of contract law and the protection of private property rights under the Constitution.
3. Cohens v. Virginia (1821): In this case, the Court ruled that the Supreme Court had the authority to review and overturn state court decisions that were in conflict with federal law. The decision established the principle of federal supremacy and the power of the federal courts to interpret and enforce the Constitution.
4. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): In this case, the Court ruled that the federal government had the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce, rejecting the claim that states had the power to regulate commerce within their borders. The decision established the principle of federal supremacy and the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce.
5. Worcester v. Georgia (1832): In this case, the Court ruled that Georgia's laws regulating the presence of Native Americans within the state were unconstitutional and violated the rights of the Cherokee Nation. The decision established the principle of tribal sovereignty and the right of Native American tribes to be treated as sovereign nations with the right to self-governance.