The Adams Administration The Constitution in Crisis 1797-1801
USHC 1.5 Explain how the fundamental principle of limited government is protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, including democracy, republicanism, federalism, the separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, and individual rights. USHC 1.6 Analyze the development of the two-party system during the presidency of George Washington, including controversies over domestic and foreign policies and the regional interests of the [Jeffersonian] Republicans and the Federalists.
Washington’s Farewell Address WARNINGS: Political Partisanship Sectionalism Foreign Entanglements Respect the Constitution
The Adams Administration ACTIONS: Political Partisanship Sectionalism Foreign Entanglements Respect the Constitution
VS. The Election of 1796 John Adams Thomas Jefferson FEDERALIST REPUBLICAN
SECTIONALISM 1796 1800
The Endurance of Sectionalism
The Constitution, as originally written, made no provisions for political parties. The original formula for the selection of the President and Vice President reflected this.
The Results: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, FEDERALIST REPUBLICAN President Thomas Jefferson, Vice President FEDERALIST REPUBLICAN
Gazette of the United States Partisan Newspapers Gazette of the United States (Federalist) National Gazette (Republican)
tOOTHLESS BLIND old crippled Bald Adams Querulous
The Griswold-Lyon Fight 1798
I’ve got 99 problems… Partisanship’s only one.
Gov. Involvement in Economy Federal Assumption of State War Debts FEDERALISTS The First Party System REPUBLICANS HAMILTON John Adams Leaders JEFFERSON James Madison Strong CENTRAL Gov. Federalism States’ Rights Anarchy / Mob Rule Fears Tyranny LOOSE Construction Constitution STRICT Construction YES Gov. Involvement in Economy NO VERY YES National Bank Protective Tariff Federal Assumption of State War Debts Urban (Commerce) Support Base Rural (Agrarian) Anglophiles Foreign Policy Francophiles
The “Quasi-War” Undeclared naval conflict between the US and France (1798-1800). The XYZ Affair http://www.orangesmile.com/ru/foto/ocean-maps-eng.htm
To the wicked, everything serves as a pretext. Voltaire
The Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 Allowed the President to deport undesirable aliens Extended the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 14 years Naturalization Act Alien Friends Act Alien Enemies Act Constitutional?
Were the Alien Acts constitutional? To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization… From Article I, Section 8: DELEGATED
The Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 EXPIRATION DATE: 3/4/1801 Outlawed the publication of "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government Constitutional? Sedition Act
Was the Sedition Act constitutional? From Amendment I: Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press… RESERVED
Clip from HBO’s John Adams (2:46) EPIC FAIL The Sedition Act violated the Constitution on two counts: Free Speech & Press (1st) States’ Rights (10th) Clip from HBO’s John Adams (2:46)
What Now?
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Federalist No. 10 AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction…
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions 1798 Protest Resolutions Passed by state legislatures COMPACT THEORY Jefferson Madison The Constitution is a compact (agreement) between the states, and they have the authority to interpret it.
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions 1798 How far can states go in resisting unconstitutional laws passed by the federal government? Jefferson Madison INTERPOSITION NULLIFICATION
Kentucky Resolutions In questions of power, then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down…by the chains of the Constitution.
Jefferson to John Taylor of Caroline “A little patience, and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their spells dissolve, and the people, recovering their true sight, restore their government to its true principles.”
REVOLUTION? 1796 1800
…and Congress, too!