We have read about all of President Jefferson's actions as our nation's leader from 1801-1809. We have also begun discussing a number of his policies in class.
This morning, take a look back at our readings, the posted videos and our lessons and answer the following question in the comments' section:
What is a decision/policy made by President Jefferson that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution?
Include a brief description of the policy/decision followed by a short argument supporting your position.
As is our practice, we will reply to two other comments.
One major decision/policy made by President Jefferson that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution was the Madbury V Madison case. In this case Madbury, his commission was signed and sealed but not delivered. So Madison and Jefferson redacted it. Madbury fought back and claimed he had a right to have his commission. In the end, Madbury did not receive his commission but did end up nullifying the judiciary at of 1801. Going strictly by the constitution Madbury should have received his commission. This means that Jefferson pushed for a ruling that went against a strict interpretation of the constitution. Furthermore, Jefferson and Madison were fully meddling in judiciary affairs. This directly opposed Jefferson's so called Laissez Faire governing style.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and I think it is interesting that he only violated this policy when it served him politically.
DeleteI agree, he used his policy when it benefited him but abandoned it when it didnt help him
Deletei agree because he only allowed himself to do it because it actually benefited him
DeleteI agree Jefferson only followed this policy when it benefited him most, instead of when it benefited the country most.
DeleteI agree this is a classic example of politicians going against their principles only when it benefits them.
DeleteI agree that Jefferson only wanted to follow this policy when it helped him.
DeleteI agree he went agains his principles because it helped him.
Deleteone decision that Jefferson made that violated his laissez faire policy is when he tried to fire the midnight appointees. He went after the midnight appointees, which was not the hands-off policy that he usually followed.
ReplyDeleteI agree, firing these judges wasnt as hands off as he normally was.
DeleteJefferson purposefully medelled in affairs that was not necessary for him to be apart off, thereby contradicting his laissez faire demeanor.
DeleteOne decision made by President Jefferson that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution was his effort to try to get rid of the midnight judges appointed by Adams just before Jefferson took office. He took on Judge Pickering first because Pickering was so erratic that the Federalists couldn't really defend him, and Jefferson would have set a precedent for removing judges. Getting rid of a judge for political reasons was not true to Jefferson's laissez faire attitude.
ReplyDeleteI agree that trying to take these judges' jobs went against everything Laissez Faire stands for.
DeleteI agree that trying to get rid of the midnight judges was definitely not laissez faire and a much more aggressive solution.
DeleteGetting rid of those judges indirectly violated the constitution meaning Jefferson did not follow it strictly.
DeleteOne decision made by President Jefferson that contradicts his policy of strictly following the constitution and his Laissez Faire attitude was when he threatened to descend on New Orleans and then acquiring New Orleans. The Constitution never gave him the powers needed to acquire territory and descending on New Orleans didnt align with his laid back attitude.
ReplyDeletei agree because he really did just read between the lines since its not written there directly
DeleteI agree because he was never specifically given this power and he didn't want the president to be able to do anything the constitution didn't specifically allow for him to do.
DeleteI agree because the constitution did not give him the right to do descend upon New Orleans.
DeleteI agree, and I think this also applies to the rest of the Louisiana territory.
DeleteI agree the constitution never gave him the powers specifically to descend on New Orleans.
DeleteI agree because the attitude he put to getting the territory does contradict his principles of Laissez Faire governing
Deletethe decision/policy that Jefferson made that contradicts his principle was that of him purchasing the Louisiana territory from Napoleon. this is because he was known for asking for the constitution to be interoperated directly without reading through between the lines and because there is no mention in the constitution where the president has the right to purchase land it goes against what he wanted others to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Louisiana Territory purchase contradicts his principle because if he strictly follows the constitution then he shouldn't be able to purchase it.
DeletePurchasing the Louisiana Territory and New Orleans directly clashed with Jefferson's beliefs.
DeleteI agree. The purchase went against Jefferson's supposedly very strict interpretation of the constitution.
DeleteI agree, it does contradict his principles of Laissez Faire governing.
DeleteA decision Jefferson made that contradicts his principle of being Laissez Faire was his attempt to impeach the midnight appointees. Being Laissez Faire meant encouraging certain decisions but never taking action. When it came to the court, however, Jefferson was not hesitant to impeach judges like John Pickering on the claims that he was "insane." He also supported Madison's decision to withhold William Marbury's commission. It was not until a well-known Federalist named Samuel Chase called Jefferson out for his false claims that Jefferson began to let go of the court. Jefferson did not remain Laissez faire in this circumstance as he tried to get rid of the judges Adams had previously hired.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Impeaching the midnight appointees violated the Laissez faire ideals.
DeleteI agree. Impeaching the judges appointed by the Adams administration was not very laissez-faire of Jefferson.
DeleteThe attempt to impeach such appointees directly contradicted Jeffersons Laissez Faire approach h to his presidency, because he was interfering with judicial matters to better his career even though it was not necessary for the Federal government to interfere.
DeleteThe decision of acquiring new Orleans directly clashed with his principle. This is because he was against the president having any powers the constitution did not directly gave them. Therefore, since the power to purchase land was not in the US constitution, if Jefferson had stuck to his principles he would have not purchased the land. And it is quite hypocritical since the main thing he critized the previous government on was giving themselves powers not outlined in the us constitution.
ReplyDeleteJefferson's beliefs and then him purchasing New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory definitely clashed together.
DeleteI think a decision that Jefferson made that contradicts his principle of following the Constitution strictly is the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. The purchase of the Louisiana territory was possibly unconstitutional because the constitution didn't say anything about acquiring new land. Although he choose to still go through with the deal.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Purchasing the territory went against those principles.
DeleteThe decision made by Jefferson that contradicted his rule of strictly following the constitution and having a laissez-faire policy towards governing was him threatening to take New Orleans by force. This violated the rules of the constitution, in addition to his relaxed ways of governing.
ReplyDeleteThe "taking it by force" bit was definitely not a laissez faire attitude, because war itself was not a very Jefferson-like attitude.
DeleteJefferson abandoned his laissez faire ideals when he bought property. In 1803, when Jefferson purchased Louisiana from the French he violated his principles. Purchasing land was considered unconstitutional at the time. Jefferson stood by that however he then bought a large amount of territory from the French.
ReplyDeleteThe decision Jefferson made that contradicted his rule (which not only included his principles of Laissez-Faire governing but also having a strict interpretation of the US Constitution) is the method used to acquire New Orleans. Jefferson ordered New Orleans to be taken by force. The Constitution had no information about acquiring new lands, which meant that it wasn't intended for U.S leaders to be gaining new lands. Additionally, his beliefs would have lead to Jefferson NOT purchasing New Orleans (and eventually the Louisiana Territory).
ReplyDeleteI agree that him doing something outside of the constitution is very contradictory.
DeleteOne policy that contradicted the Jeffersonian policies of laissez-fair government and strict interpretation of the constitution was the Louisiana Purchase. The constitution said nothing about the president, or anyone in the government, being able to acquire new land. Along with that, he also threatened to take New Orleans by force, which was utilizing the national military he was seemingly so against. Although the Louisiana Purchase sticks out, a lot of Jefferson's policies went against what he said, and his idea of a localist, agrarian, utopia, was not really what sprouted from his policies.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and it is especially important to note his threat of force, as he was actively against a large federal military.
DeleteThe Louisiana Purchase does go against his philosophy.
DeleteOne major decision that President Jefferson made that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution is the Louisiana Purchase. Despite the fact that the constitution mentions nothing about the acquisition of land or expansion, he decided to go ahead with acquiring the Louisiana territory anyway. Under a strict and literal interpretation of the constitution, he would not have followed through with this plan, but he decided to put his own morals and values aside in order to further what he believed that the development of our country.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Constitution didn't give a president the power to buy land, but Jefferson did it anyway. For someone who thought powers had to specified, not implied, this was a contradiction in his philosophy.
DeleteOne decision Jefferson made that contradicted his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution was trying to impeach the midnight appointees. He first tried to impeach Pickering because there was a big reason why he wanted him to be impeached. Trying to impeach the midnight appointees didn't go along with the principles of Laissez Faire.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Jefferson's attempt to remove the judges that Adams appointed was not consistent with his laissez-faire philosophy, but he probably thought he couldn't enact his laissez-faire policy while those judges were making decisions.
DeleteI also think that impeachment for political gain, wasn't part of his initial principals.
DeleteOne Major decision made by President Thomas Jefferson that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and having a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution was his effort to try to get rid of the judges appointed by Adams. Like John Pickering, Samuel Chase, and other judges being impeached under Jefferson. Jefferson would become known for getting rid of many judges that Adams put in office. Judges being removed because of political views and action was not supportive to Jefferson's laissez faire attitude to things.
ReplyDeleteGetting rid of the midnight-appointees did go against his philosophy as a Republican, as the Federalists were doing the same to the Republican party a few years earlier.
DeleteOne contradicting decision Jefferson made that went against his strict interpretation of the Constitution would be the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. While it was good for land owners and farmers, as now they had more land to spread out towards, the Constitution doesn't directly state that the executive government could buy any territory. If Jefferson interpreted the Constitution as is, he would have rejected this idea. But, due to the amount of land present and encouragement from other members within the government, he opted to buy the territory.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good point, the Louisiana purchase seemed like it would be out of his comfort zone.
DeleteA major decision that Jefferson made that contradicts his laissez faire attitude about the government was when he tried to impeach and get rid of Adam's "midnight judges." This was against his typical ways because his government mindset is more leaning towards not really getting involved in Judicial matters, so it was very surprising when he was very adamant about removing the midnight judges from office.
ReplyDeleteI agree, it wasn't within the Constitution, which meant it should have been up to the states
DeleteOne decision made by President Jefferson that contradicts his principles of Laissez Faire governing and his strict interpretation of the United States Constitution; was when he sent military to stop economic growth from happening in the US contradicting the Embargo. Since he was so previously adamant the Whiskey rebellion was wrong since the government shouldn't have much power it makes me wonder why he would do a similar act. Since the people who were trading with Canada were stimulating trade and commerce and he stopped that, his decision confuses me on why he would go against his standard of economic government.
ReplyDeleteI agree, for him to take that action wasn't aligned with his ideals
DeleteThe decision made by Jefferson that didn't abide by Jeffersonian law was the purchase of Louisiana, which by all accounts should have been bought by the state or states to create it, or by a vote in Congress to create a new state and buy it
ReplyDelete