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