1. American History I - Unit 4 Ms. Brown
EARLY PRESIDENTS
American History I - Unit 4
Ms. Brown

2. Review
How did Washington approach the French Revolution and France’s war with GB?
What treaty with Spain gave the US use of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans?
What did Jay’s Treaty with Great Britain do?
Why did Washington choose to step down as president after 2 terms?
What are some precedents that Washington set for future presidents?

3. Review
How did Washington approach the French Revolution and France’s war with GB?
He chose to be neutral (unbiased) and issued a declaration of neutrality.
What treaty with Spain gave the US use of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans?
Pinckney’s Treaty in 1795
What did Jay’s Treaty with Great Britain do?
Forced British troops to leave the US, but allowed British fur traders to stay in the US
Why did Washington choose to step down as president after 2 terms?
He didn’t want to seem like a king, getting old
What are some precedents that Washington set for future presidents?
Established the cabinet system, “Mr. President,” State of the Union address, had a social life, enforced federal laws, served only 2 terms, delivered a farewell address, neutrality in foreign affairs

4. 4.3 – ADAMS PROVOKES CRITICISM
AH1.H.1.3 Historical analysis and interpretation – identify issues and problems in the past, consider multiple perspectives of the past, analyze cause-and-effect relationships and multiple causation, evaluate competing historical narrative and debates among historians, evaluate the influence of the past on contemporary issues.
AH1.H.4.1 Analyze the political issues and conflicts that impacted the US through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.
AH1.H.4.2 Analyze the economic issues and conflicts that impacted the US through Reconstruction and the compromises that resulted.
AH1.H.5.1 Summarize how philosophical, ideological, and/or religious views on freedom and equality contributed to the development of American political and economic systems.
AH1.H.5.2 Explain how judicial, legislative, and executive actions have affected the distribution of power between levels of government.
AH1.H.6.1 Explain how national economic and political interests helped set the direction of US foreign policy.

5. Democratic Republican
Election of 1796
1st election with political parties! TJ
Democratic Republican
JOHN ADAMS
Federalist
POTUS VP
Runner-up became VP.

6. Election of 1796
The Constitution was written when political parties were not developed… therefore it made sense to have the runner-up in the election become the VP.
With political parties… having the POTUS and the VP from different parties is going to cause some PROBLEMS!
Highlighted growing sectionalism – placing the interests of one region over the interests of the nation.
Southern states – TJ
Northern states - Adams

7. The Adams Administration
When Washington was in office, he gave Hamilton A LOT of power, influence, and leeway with his ideas.
When Washington stepped down, Hamilton basically lost his closest ally in the government, minus John Adams (Federalist).
Things look good with Adams being president, except that Adams thinks Washington gave Hamilton too much power.
Adams as POTUS wants to be more powerful than Hamilton, so he doesn’t offer Hamilton a position in his cabinet.
Hamilton no longer held any official position in the US government.
At the end, TJ says, “let’s let him know what we know…” referring to some information they had about Hamilton possibly embezzling gov’t funds. They wanted to use this evidence to blackmail Hamilton out of politics for good.

8. Crisis with France
France – “Jay’s Treaty with England is a VIOLATION of our alliance!”
French officials refused to meet with American ambassadors
French ships began to seize (attack/snatch) American ships going to England.
Adams sent 3 diplomats (American officials) to negotiate a deal with the French foreign minister Talleyrand.

9. XYZ Affair
XYZ Affair , American diplomats are not greeted by Talleyrand → instead see 3 low- level French officials (“X, Y, and Z”).
Demand $250,000 to see Talleyrand
Demand a loan to finance French war with England
Demanded payment for the “wrongs” done to France by beaking their treaty
American diplomats were INSULTED and REFUSED to pay anything.

10. Quasi-War with France
1798 – Congress created navy and began seizing French ships.
Many men volunteered for the military
Washington came out of retirement to be “Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of the raised or to be raised”
– Quasi-War (undeclared war) with France in the Atlantic Ocean
War-like activities without either country actually declaring war on each other.

11. The Alien and Sedition Acts
The XYZ Affair caused an anti-French feeling in America.
Rumors of French spies hiding in America
Growing immigrant population → backed the Democratic Republicans instead of Federalists
Anti-French feelings and growing immigrant populations → Adams and Federalists felt threatened by immigrants and anyone who disagreed with them.

12. The Alien and Sedition Acts
The Alien and Sedition Acts , laws passed by Congress during the undeclared war with France that limited freedoms of speech and press and restricted the liberty of non US citizens and immigrants
Naturalization Act – must be in US for 14 years to be a citizen
Alien Friends Act – POTUS can deport any alien (foreigner) who was deemed dangerous to national security
Alien Enemies Act – POTUS can deport any alien from a country who is at war with US
Sedition Act – crime to publish/say anything that criticizes the government (sedition)

13. Can You…
Print a newspaper article with the title: “Adams Losing Naval War with France”
NO! – Sedition Act
face jail time
Become a citizen after living in the US for 10 years
NO! – Naturalization Act
must live in US for 14 years to be citizen
Be French and live in the US
NO! – Alien Enemies Act
deported because the US is at war with France
Be Irish and support the Democratic Republicans
NO! – Alien Friends Act
Deported because any foreigner who was deemed dangerous to national security was suspicious

14. The Alien and Sedition Acts
OUTRAGED Democratic Republicans
Many DRs were immigrants
Many DRs disagreed with Adams/Federalists → jailed for speaking/writing against the government
Violation of liberties guaranteed and protected in the Bill of Rights (speech and press)

15. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
TJ and Madison (both DRs) believed the federal government was misusing their power with the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Decided to organize state support for opposing the Alien and Sedition Acts → wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Claimed the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional, therefore VA and KY would NOT follow these laws.
Nullification – the idea that states could ignore any act of Congress/President they considered unconstitutional.

16. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
No other states wrote or adopted similar resolutions, but this highlighted the continuing disagreement over the power of the federal government.