1. 2 nd President of the U.S.: John Adams 1796-1800

2. 70 of 138 electoral votes needed to win NomineeJohn AdamsThomas Jefferson PartyFederalistDemocratic-Republican Home stateMassachusettsVirginia Running mateThomas PinckneyAaron Burr Electoral vote7168 States carried97 Popular vote35,72631,115 Percentage53.4%46.6%

3.  Under the rules of the voting system at the time, each person eligible to vote and elect the President was able to vote twice.  The candidate who received the most votes became president and the candidate who came in second became vice president.  As a result, Federalist John Adams received the most votes, becoming the 2 nd President of the United States. Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, receiving the second highest vote total, became Vice President.

4.  1735-1826  YEARS AS PRESIDENT: 1796-1800  OCCUPATION: Lawyer, 1 st U.S. Vice President, 2 nd U.S. President  EDUCATION: Harvard University Law  HOME STATE: Massachusetts  Founding Father of the United States

5.  John Adams Presidency (1796-1800) was hurt by the fact that he had many enemies in government, including Alexander Hamilton, who tried to control the Federalist Party and national government from “behind the scenes”.

6.  Upset by the Jay Treaty years earlier (U.S. Treaty w/ England), France begins seizing American ships.  July 1797: In an effort to peacefully settle this dispute with France, Adams sent 3 members of Government to France to negotiate a peace agreement.  Upon their arrival, they were unable to meet with the French Foreign Minister. Instead he sent three officials, known in code as Agents “X”, “Y”, and “Z”.  Agents “XYZ” tried to negotiate humiliating terms for the U.S., including $250,000 in bribes.

7.  Adams, offended by the French demands, broke off negotiations.  The “XYZ Affair” as Congress called it, unified the nation with strong Anti-French feelings.  1798: Congress expands the size of U.S. Army and also authorized a small navy, that ends up having a “Quasi-War” (Semi-War) with the French navy. THE “ALMOST WAR”

8. XYZ Affair 1797 Political Cartoon

9.  Alien & Sedition Acts (1798) – Strengthened national security by authorizing the President to arrest and deport immigrants, particularly those who spoke out against the government.  These laws included new powers to deport foreigners as well as making it harder for new immigrants to vote and become a citizen.