John Adams v. Thomas Jefferson (Federalist) (Democratic-Republican) Election of 1796 John Adams v. Thomas Jefferson (Federalist) (Democratic-Republican)
The Election of 1796 John Adams Federalist Thomas Pinckney - VP Federalist Vice President for Washington Thomas Jefferson Aaron Burr -VP Democratic-Republican Secretary of State
The Results Adams won the Presidency by 3 Electoral votes (71 to 68) Jefferson became the Vice President because he finished 2nd in the Electoral voting
The Importance Peaceful transfer of political power from one person to another Electoral College process did not anticipate the formation of political parties President and Vice President were of differing political parties (In 1804 -- Amendment #12 would correct this by requiring electors to cast separate ballots for President and Vice President)
Adams’ Presidency Major Event – the XYZ Affair Undeclared naval war between US & France Adams sent US delegation to France to negotiate a settlement French ministers known as “X”, “Y” & “Z” demanded Americans pay them bribe money for the privilege of negotiating US refused – “Millions for defense, not one cent in tribute”
Alien and Sedition Acts Series of 4 laws To protect US against French infiltration To allow Federalists to limit the role of the Democratic-Republicans
Naturalization Act Increased the time for becoming a citizen from 5 to 14 years
Alien Act Authorized President to deport Aliens considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States”
Alien Enemies Act Allowed the President during wartime to arrest, imprison or deport all aliens from an enemy nation
Sedition Act Allowed that a person could be fined and jailed if found guilty of sedition, or “combining and conspiring to oppose the execution of the laws, or publishing false, scandalous, or malicious writings against the President, Congress, or the government of the United States.”
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson Declared that the states had entered into a “compact” with the national government and if any act of the national government broke the compact, the state could nullify the federal law 1st expression of States’ Rights – Theory of Nullification that would eventually lead to Civil War
Controversy faded Federalist lost majority in Congress in 1800; Democratic-Republicans allowed Alien and Sedition acts to expire The Supreme Court would claim the right of the Court to declare federal law unconstitutional (1803)
Election of 1800 John Adams Thomas Jefferson Charles Pinckney - VP Aaron Burr - VP
The Results Jefferson defeated Adams Electoral vote was a tie between Jefferson and Burr House of Representatives took 36 ballots to break the tie and voted Jefferson the 3rd President of U.S.