John Adams: Tricky Business  Objective : I can explain the impact of major events in American politics on American society under the administration of John Adams.  Preview : Answer: Which is more important, national security or personal freedom and rights?  Process : Adams notes  On Your Own : Foreign Affairs Trouble the Nation.

The strongest of the two parties was the Federalists headed by Hamilton but he was too outspoken and therefore alienated a lot of people. So the Federalists went with John Adams as their candidate. (naturally George Washington remained Neutral but did want the presidency to remain in tact – since John Adams was VP under GW Democrat-Republicans chose Thomas Jefferson who would lose to Adams and become Vice President – the Electoral College was initially set up to name the second-most vote getter to become the VP The election of 1796 was a bitter contest between John Adams (Federalists) and Thomas Jefferson (Anti-Federalists). Adams won by a small margin.

Washington retires John Adams takes the reigns  Adams: first president to govern from Washington D.C. – He was a Federalist.  Exposes a big flaw in the American political system:  Jefferson was the runner-up so he became vice- president. He was a Democratic-Republican.  Think about this? How is this different in today’s politics?

XYZ Affair  French upset at the US Neutrality Proclamation and the signing of Jay’s Treaty  (let’s remember Jay’s Treaty)  Quasi-War (undeclared)  Adams sent ambassadors to France to open up a line of communication.  Those ambassadors were confronted by French governmental agents identified as X, Y, and Z.

Adams’ Foreign Issues  The agents said the delegates had to pay a sum of money ($10 million and a bribe to the minister for $250,000) before negotiations could be reached.  United States responds with a big fat “NO!”  The American public saw this as an act of disrespect. They wanted war with France.  Now US ships could seize French vessels. Congress approved money to build up navy and army. 

Alien and Sedition Acts The American public saw every French foreigner and dissenter as a traitor and/or spy. Alien Acts -  lengthened residence requirement from five to fourteen years.  authorized the president to deport or imprison any alien he felt dangerous. Sedition Acts –  people who spoke out against the national government could be fined or imprisoned.  Violation of what Amendment?!

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions Jefferson and Madison saw the Alien and Sedition Acts as violations of the Constitution. Jefferson composed a draft for the Kentucky legislature while Madison composed one for Virginia. Essence of resolutions – states had the right to declare national laws null and void ( nullification ) if those laws were in violation of states ’ rights — therefore they could refuse to obey them ! No other states followed this theory. If it was accepted, the Supreme Court would have been useless since the states would determine which national laws were constitutional or not. Let ’ s reflect what the branches of government do?

Adams in review…  Adams term as President was full of conflicts. 1. There were troubles with France and Great Britain. (XYZ Affair) 2. Congress passed anti-immigration laws that increased citizenship requirements, so that Jefferson could not receive support from the immigrant community. 3. Congress also tried to limit speech and press rights. 4. Jefferson and his supporters argued that states could refuse to support federal laws they did not agree with. (under what?)

Marbury v. Madison (1803) Background: Before Thomas Jefferson took office, John Adams quickly Appointed 58 members of his own political party to government jobs. Thomas Jefferson was a Democrat-Republican and Adams was a Federalist. Jefferson did not have his Secretary of State, James Madison deliver papers to 17 of the appointees. William Marbury sued Madison and asked the Supreme Court to make him deliver the papers. The court had to decide if Marbury was entitled to his job. The big question of this case was whether the Supreme Court should hear this case. The Court made the decision that the Supreme Court had the right of Judicial Review-that it is the job of the Court to determine if a law is Constitutional or not. “it is the inherent duty of the courts to interpret and apply the Constitution”- John Marshal