1. The Presidency of John Adams 1797-1801 President John Adams by John Singleton Copley

2. A Contentious Beginning… Political parties had developed into powerful forces in the statesPolitical parties had developed into powerful forces in the states –States control electoral college, electors in each state cast two votes each for a presidential candidate According to the Constitution:According to the Constitution: –The candidate with the highest number of electoral votes becomes President of the United States –The candidate with the second highest number of electoral votes becomes the Vice President of the United States What potential problems (flaws) can you foresee happening with this selection process?What potential problems (flaws) can you foresee happening with this selection process?

3. John Adams Federalist Thomas Jefferson Democratic-Republican Election of 1796: Meet the Candidates

4. Electoral Votes-1796

5. On this week’s episode of Desperate Founding Fathers… Electoral College Results:Electoral College Results: –Adams—71 votes –Jefferson—68 votes The Constitution Says…The Constitution Says… –Two candidates with the most votes become President and Vice President! So….. President Adams and Vice President Jefferson are from different political partiesPresident Adams and Vice President Jefferson are from different political parties This is changed by Amendment XII (1804)This is changed by Amendment XII (1804) Predictions?Predictions?

6. The Twelfth Amendment (1804) Amendment XII (1804)Amendment XII (1804) –Required presidential electors to vote separately for president & vice president

7. Twelfth Amendment The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice- President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.--The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice- President of the United States.

8. President Adams The Goods:The Goods: –Age: 62 (stuffy figure) –Stats: 5 foot 7 inches –Sharp figure, bald Personality:Personality: –He was a man of stern principles who did his duty with stubborn devotion. –Educated, tactless, prickly intellectual aristocrat –No appeal to the masses (the common people) Adams had Huge Shoes to Fill!Adams had Huge Shoes to Fill! –No successor could hope to fill Washington’s shoes, as he was perhaps the greatest man alive at the time.

9. Adams’ Bitter Rival: Alexander Hamilton He served at the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington’s CabinetHe served at the Secretary of the Treasury in Washington’s Cabinet –Hamilton resigned in 1795 He hated John AdamsHe hated John Adams –He headed the faction of the Federalist party known as the “High Federalists” –Secretly plotted with certain members of Adams’ cabinet against the president Adams on HamiltonAdams on Hamilton –He regarded Hamilton as: “the most ruthless, impatient, artful, indefatigable and unprincipled intriguer in the United States, if not the world.”

10. Can Adams & Jefferson Work Together? It almost works at firstIt almost works at first –Adams and Jefferson have a lot of mutual respect from Revolutionary days –Adams states support for republican government, respect for French, offers Madison high position as envoy to France But Federalist cabinet (mostly Washington loyalists) protests and wins.But Federalist cabinet (mostly Washington loyalists) protests and wins. –Doesn’t take control of cabinet until last year of his presidency Beginning of the end of support for AdamsBeginning of the end of support for Adams

11. Domestic Policy When Adams was president he followed Washington's lead in making the presidency the example of republican values, and stressing civic virtue, he was never involved in any scandal. Adams decided to keep the old cabinet, which was controlled by Hamilton, instead of installing his own people. Which is looked upon by some historians as his worst presidential decision. Yet, there are other historians who feel that Adams's decision to keep Washington's cabinet was a statesman- like step to soothe worries about an orderly succession. Adams's combative spirit did not always lend itself to presidential decorum, he always had something to say and sometimes it was not of the classiest taste.

12. Unofficial Fighting with France The French furious with Jay’s treaty They saw the treaty as a flagrant violation of the Franco- American Treaty of 1778 French believed the U.S. was moving close to creating an alliance with Britain, France’s perpetual foe. In retaliation, the French began seizing defenseless American merchant ships (about 300 total by mid-1797) French refused to receive the American envoy (ambassador) and threatened to arrest him.

13. Unofficial Fighting with France Adams reacts:Adams reacts: –Adams keeps his cool & follows Washington’s policy to steer clear of war at all costs –He tried to keep the peace between the United States and France at all costs He appointed a diplomatic commission of three men (including future Chief Justice John Marshall) to head to France for peace negotiations

14. The XYZ Affair Adams’s envoys reach Paris in 1797 hoping to meet Talleyrand, the crafty French foreign minister American envoys secretly approached by three go- betweens, later referred to as X, Y, and Z in the public dispatches (records/newspapers) Charles Maurice Talleyrand

15. The XYZ Affair: The Bribe French spokesmen demanded that in order to merely “talk” with Talleyrand, they had to: –Provide them with an unneutral loan of 32 million florins –A bribe of about $250,000 American Envoys reaction: –Believed these terms were intolerable –While knowing European diplomacy usually involved bribes, they gagged at the possibility of handing over a quarter of a million dollars –There were no assurances that the diplomats would even talk to Talleyrand, let alone no assurances for a peace agreement –John Marshall returned to the United States to brief the President

16. Public Opinion toward France Shifts The XYZ affair - Maiden America ravaged by the French 5 members of the Directory in France Britain looking on from on high Rest of the world looking on

17. Fallout from XYZ Affair War hysteria swept through the United StatesWar hysteria swept through the United States Many Americans (mostly Federalists) calling for war with FranceMany Americans (mostly Federalists) calling for war with France –Hamilton, others thought U.S. could gain land –Slogan of the hour: “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” The United States Prepares for War?The United States Prepares for War? –Navy Department was created (three ship navy expanded) –United States Marine Corps was reestablished (created in 1775, but was disbanded after the Revolutionary War) –New Army of 10,000 men was authorized (but not fully raised)

18. The U.S. & France: Undeclared Hostilities (1798-1800) Fighting took place mostly on the high seas (mostly in the West Indies)Fighting took place mostly on the high seas (mostly in the West Indies) –American privateers, men-of-war, and the new navy captured over 80 French vessels –Several Hundred American ships were lost to the French While American public opinion was clamoring for war, President Adams felt that U.S. Army and Navy were not strong enough to fight a major powerWhile American public opinion was clamoring for war, President Adams felt that U.S. Army and Navy were not strong enough to fight a major power –Sends new ministers instead Unpopular move, but….?Unpopular move, but….?

19. Adams: Peace Talks, Take 2… Talleyrand agrees to receive a new American envoy and treat with respect & dignityTalleyrand agrees to receive a new American envoy and treat with respect & dignity While Adams contemplated going to war with France, he decided to avoid war at all costsWhile Adams contemplated going to war with France, he decided to avoid war at all costs –Adams initially felt a war with France (like Hamilton) could have been lucrative: gaining land (Spanish Florida & Louisiana) and possibility lining himself up for reelection for a second term –Adams ultimately kept in line with Washington’s policy of neutrality and keeping out of European wars When he announced to the Senate he was going to send a new minister to France…When he announced to the Senate he was going to send a new minister to France… –Hamilton was furious (he wanted to go to war with France) –Reasonable Federalists and Jeffersonians were receptive, agreeing that avoiding war was the best course of action

20. Napoleon Bonaparte Seized dictatorial control of France, thus ending the French RevolutionSeized dictatorial control of France, thus ending the French Revolution Had designs on creating a “New World Empire” in LouisianaHad designs on creating a “New World Empire” in Louisiana Napoleon met with American envoys in 1800: Napoleon met with American envoys in 1800: –Treaty of Convention of 1800 (signed in Paris) France agreed to annul the Franco- American Treaty (1778) American government agreed to pay the damage claims of American shippers Ended American entanglements in Europe during a time of peace Napoleon Bonaparte

21. Significance of the Convention of 1800 Adams avoided the hazards of war with France.Adams avoided the hazards of war with France. Laid the groundwork for the future purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France (1803)Laid the groundwork for the future purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France (1803) If the U.S. had engaged in a war against France, Napoleon probably wouldn’t have sold the U.S. LouisianaIf the U.S. had engaged in a war against France, Napoleon probably wouldn’t have sold the U.S. Louisiana

22. Federalists Take Control Public anger with France strengthens Federalists in CongressPublic anger with France strengthens Federalists in Congress –Win majority of both houses in 1798 –Enacted laws that were restrictive to Democratic- Republican rivals What did Washington warn about again?What did Washington warn about again?

23. Naturalization Act What did it do? Increases from five to fourteen number of years required to qualify for U.S. citizenshipIncreases from five to fourteen number of years required to qualify for U.S. citizenship Why would it favor the Federalists? Most immigrants voted with the Democratic-RepublicansMost immigrants voted with the Democratic-Republicans

24. Alien Acts What did it do? Authorized the president to deport any aliens considered to be dangerousAuthorized the president to deport any aliens considered to be dangerous Authorized the president to detain any enemy aliens in a time of warAuthorized the president to detain any enemy aliens in a time of war Why would it favor the Federalists? Democratic-Republicans sympathetic to the French RevolutionDemocratic-Republicans sympathetic to the French Revolution

25. Sedition Act What did it do? Makes it illegal for newspapers to criticize the president or CongressMakes it illegal for newspapers to criticize the president or Congress Imposed heavy penaltiesImposed heavy penalties for editors who violated the new law –Fines –Imprisonment Why would it favor the Federalists? Are you kidding?Are you kidding? Representative Matthew Lyon of Vermont, arrested under the Sedition Act of 1798, attacking a fellow congressman

26. Responses to Alien and Sedition Acts Republicans say that they violate First AmendmentRepublicans say that they violate First Amendment –Judicial Review not yet established, so no Supreme Court case Kentucky and Virginia ResolutionsKentucky and Virginia Resolutions –Written, respectively, by Jefferson and Madison Argument: Since states had entered into the compact (Constitution), they can nullify a federal law that breaks the agreement. Try to get other state legislatures enact “nullification” laws. They didn’t.Argument: Since states had entered into the compact (Constitution), they can nullify a federal law that breaks the agreement. Try to get other state legislatures enact “nullification” laws. They didn’t.

27. The Crisis Fades Federalists, due to the unpopularity of these laws, lose their majority in the election of 1800Federalists, due to the unpopularity of these laws, lose their majority in the election of 1800 –Republicans allow the Alien and Sedition Acts to expire or repeal parts of them –Under John Marshall, Supreme Court will establish role as the last resort in determining if a law is constitutional News of a new peace with France doesn’t make it to the U.S. until after the electionNews of a new peace with France doesn’t make it to the U.S. until after the election

28. Judging Adams Keeps U.S. out of war, preserves neutralityKeeps U.S. out of war, preserves neutrality Strengthens the NavyStrengthens the Navy Peaceful transfer of power to opposing political party in 1800Peaceful transfer of power to opposing political party in 1800 Relationship with France damaged New taxes imposed Party politics become entrenched Dislike for the Federalist Congress and the Alien and Sedition Acts cost Adams his reelection and gave control of Congress to the Republicans. But in weighing his presidency, we have to consider the negative along with the positive:

29. Presidential Rank John Adams, I feel ranks among the top ten of presidents in our country’s history. I rank him as number 8 on the list of presidents for a number of reasons. He established and maintained foreign policy making the United States a larger player in worldly affairs and made a number of changes in our nations first 50 years.

30. Electoral Vote (1800)

31. EndEnd