1. John Adams

2. What You Need to Know For Quiz
XYZ Affair
Federalist – what do they believe
Democratic-Republican - what do they believe
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions - what their purpose was and who wrote them
Marbury v. Madison case  established judicial review
What is judicial review
Louisiana Purchase
Why it was important
Who explored the land
Who made the purchase
Embargo Act of 1807
What the Alien and Sedition Acts were and who passed them

3. Election of 1796
George Washington steps down in 1796 and sets the precedent of Presidents serving only 2 terms
Two nominees
John Adams
Served as Washington’s Vice President
Federalist
Thomas Jefferson
Served as Washington’s Secretary of State
Democratic-Republican
Results
Adams becomes President, Jefferson becomes VP
North mostly votes Adams, South mostly votes
Jefferson beginnings of sectionalism

4. Jay’s Treaty Causes Problems
France believes the US was favoring Britain
US is making debt payments to British
French and British are at war
In 1797 France starts attacking US trade ships
Adams want to avoid war
until America gets stronger
Federalists want war
They hate France

5. Adams’ Response
Adams follows George Washington’s precedent and chooses neutrality
BUT at the same time...
Creates the US Navy and Marine Corps and authorizes them to seize French ships

6. XYZ AFFAIR
France is currently controlled by Napoleon who sends 3 lower level officers to talk to U.S. officials
French officers are not named, only referred to as X,Y,Z
Demands that US officials pay a bribe
$12 million dollars to France and $250,000 to the officials
In exchange they will be allowed to meet with the ambassador
This is NOT how negotiations were supposed to work
The US is understandably upset

7. Political Parties Pick Sides
Democratic Republicans
Federalists
Like France
They hated the British and Jay’s Treaty
Want to avoid war
Want war with France
They thought the XYZ Affair was worth going to war over
Want to support America’s image to the world

8. Adams’ Decision NO! We will not pay a bribe!
America will get ready for a war (if its necessary)
Begin building a 50,000 troop army
Bring Washington out of retirement to be Lieutenant General again
American public is very anti-French
“Millions in defense, not one
cent in tribute”
Even refuse to listen to French music

9. Reaction to Adams’ Decision
Democratic-Republicans criticize Adams
Remember: they like France
Many new immigrants are active in the Democratic-Republican party and are very vocal critics of the Adams administration
U.S. spends next two years in unofficial naval war with France

10. Adams Pouts He passes Alien and Sedition Acts to silence opposition.
Crime to say or print anything bad about the government
Raised citizenship requirement from 5 years residency to 14 years residency
10 newspaper editors were
convicted, dozens of
Democratic-Republicans found
guilty of treason

11. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are upset by the Alien and Sedition Acts and secretly write responses supported by the Virginia and Kentucky legislatures
Say Alien and Sedition Acts are unconstitutional
Jefferson argued that states had the right to: nullify federal law
Establishes the theory of: states’ rights