The Presidency of John Adams 1797 – 1801

Presidential election of 1796 Washington retired after two terms. Thomas Jefferson was the Democratic-Republican candidate. John Adams was the Federalist candidate. Thomas Jefferson came in second with 68 votes to Adams’s 71 votes. Jefferson became vice president.

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John Adams- 2nd President Though Adams became president, he did not have the full support of the presidential electors. Because of sectionalism, the southern Federalists preferred his running mate, Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina.

Adams’ Challenges Foreign Relations (Naval Battle, Growing Political Jay’s Treaty) Growing Political Parties Sectionalism War with France and England

“XYZ Affair” France captures United States ships IF YOU WERE ADAMS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Adams sends a team to negotiate with the French Three French Ambassadors (X,Y,Z) ask for $250,000 as a bribe Ask for $10 Million Loan

Result of the XYZ Affair Congress cut off trade with France Canceled wartime treaties it had made with France Authorized building warships Allowed the U.S. navy to capture French vessels at sea The XYZ Affair brought a general resentment of foreigners, which led to passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Alien Acts 3 laws that allowed the president to order foreigners considered to be a threat to national security to be jailed or deported. Targeted French and Irish refugees, most of whom supported the French Increased the period of residency required for citizenship from 5 years to 14 Required foreigners to register with the government Allowed the president to jail or expel any foreigner thought to be “dangerous to the peace and safety” of the country

Sedition Act The Sedition Act outlawed any opposition to government policies by actions or by “false, scandalous, or malicious writing.” Targeted the Democratic-Republicans, who historically supported the French Nine Democratic-Republican newspaper editors and a member of Congress were convicted under the Sedition Act.

Alien and Sedition Act Sedation Act: Illegal for any person to write print or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing . . . . against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress . . . or the President

Are these fair? The President of United States comes to Montville to deliver a speech about the Economy. Everyone is cheering, you wait until the cheer ends and then says “You are TERRIBLE” Luther Baldwin (was drunk) – Arrested in Newark for saying “I don’t care if (the canons) fire through the President’s arse” Two months in jail and a fine Federalist are taking away liberty 10 editors and printers convicted

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Jefferson and Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, where they argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional. They hoped states would nullify the laws. Only Virginia and Kentucky passed the resolutions. In the end, there was a deeper and more bitter political divide in Congress and the country.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions WHO CAN JUDGE IF A GOVERNMENT IS ABUSING ITS POWERS? The States!!! Nullification – States can declare acts of Congress against the Constitution and “null and void”

Evaluate John Adams using the 5 presidential qualities Vision Pragmatism Consensus Charisma Trust