Question: What happened in the 1800’s elections

Answer: Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans won the presidency and took control of Congress.

Question: How did the Federalists try to regain power?

Answer: the Federalists tried to pack the federal courts with loyal party members.

Question: What happened on March 3rd, 1801

Answer: outgoing President John Adams, a Federalist, signed a number of commissions, or certificates, appointing party members to new judgeships.

Question: Jefferson took office

Answer: he found that the commissions had not yet been delivered.

Question: What did Jefferson do after he took office

Answer: Jefferson ordered the Secretary of State, James Madison, not to deliver the commissions to these “midnight justices.”