1. A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem
President John Adams
The XYZ Affair
The Alien and Sedition Acts

2. The Election of 1796
Hamilton was the first Federalists choice for president but he was considered to controversial to run
Adams (Federalist) is chosen and is elected president in 1796

3. 1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)
John Adams
Massachusetts
Federalist 71
51.4%
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia
Democratic-Republican 68
49.3%
Thomas Pinckney
South Carolina 59
42.8%
Aaron Burr
New York 30
21.7%
Samuel Adams 15
10.9%
Oliver Ellsworth
Connecticut 11
8.0%
George Clinton 7
5.1%
Other -
Total Number of Electors
138
Total Electoral Votes Cast
276
Number of Votes for a Majority 70

4. 1796 Election results
Adams
Jefferson

5. The XYZ Affair
Dispute between the United States and France, 1797–98, that led to an undeclared naval war.
While France and Great Britain were at war in the 1790's, Britain and the United States signed a treaty (the Jay Treaty, in 1795) to settle mutual differences.
The French took offense to the treaty and retaliated by seizing American ships.
President John Adams dispatched federal agents to Paris to negotiate a settlement with France so they would stop attacking American ships.

6. The XYZ Affair
French agents demand a bride before they talked to the American agents about a treaty.
Adams announced to the nation how the French behaved
France is embarrassed that the American public knows of the bribe
The nation prepares for a possible war

7. Trouble on The High Seas- led to a 2 year fight with no clear winner

8. Peace Negotiations Adams negotiated a stop to the fighting
Napolean Bonaparte was the French Dictator that Adams met with
Needed to focus on the fight with Britain
Being on his good side would prove to be beneficial in 1803….

9. His Presidency
Adams was strong willed and disliked the Jeffersonian Republicans (opponents)
Adams’ personality makes it hard for him to unify the Federalists (his party)
He’s perceived as weak by the public when he does not act on France’s threat of war

10. The Alien and Sedition Acts
Federalists fear that Republicans and the French will become allies
French and British refugees are coming to the United States to escape the war

11. The Alien and Sedition Acts
June 18, 1798 The Naturalization Act requires a longer time in the U.S. to become a citizen (5-14 years)
June 25, 1798 Alien Act gave the president the power to kick out foreigners that he thought were dangerous (used against the French)
July 14, 1798 Sedition Act made it a crime to publish criticisms of the government

12. Politicians can be vindictive
The Federalists (Adam’s party) attempted to silence criticism from the Republican party by enforcing the Sedition Act
Ben Franklin’s son is actually arrested for violating the Act

13. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolves,1798
Jefferson and Madison (Democratic republicans) believe that the Sedition Act violates the 1st Amendment
They argue that states can cancel out a federal law if the state believes it to be unconstitutional
All of the Acts are eventually repealed by 1802

14. First president to live in Washington D.C.
Wife Abigail
First president to live in Washington D.C.
History.com- political career of John Adams