Chapter 7: Section 4: John Adams Presidency

Chapter 7: Section 4: John Adams Presidency

John Adams' Presidency

March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801

​The Election of 1796

• ​John Adams (Federalist)

• Thomas Jefferson (Democratic Republican

• Shows Sectionalism

​Political Parties

• ​Alexander Hamilton founded the Federalist Party. (John Adams)

• Democratic-Republican Party- was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. (used to be anti-Federalists)

• This party is not related to parties today

• Party differences were based on where some people lived....businesspeople in the cities supported Federalists, while more isolated farmers supported Democratic-Republicans.

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjHXtfWLi5w

​John Adams

​Problems With France

• ​France began attacking American ships trading with Britain

• XYZ Affair

• Americans attempt to talk to the French

• French snub the Americans

XYZ Affair

• Adams sent envoys to meet with French (Agents X, Y, and Z to the public)

• French agents demanded money (bribes and low-interest loans) before they'd talk about negotiations

• American envoys refused & went home.

Fallout from XYZ Affair

• Hurt relationship between US and France even more

• Hurt reputation of Democratic-Republicans (who supported the French)

• War fever in the U.S. - government builds up the army, establishes a navy, cuts all alliances with France

• John Adams wanted to avoid a full scale war with France opposing his own Federalist Party that under the direction of Alexander Hamilton used these events to turn U.S. citizens against France.

• Most of the impact of the XYZ affair was in domestic politics, as it was used as a tool for the opposition.

• In July 1797, in order to peacefully settle the dispute the newly elected president John Adams sent a committee of three men –Charles Cotesworth Pinkney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry- to negotiate a peace agreement with France.

​Fallout from XYZ Continued

•ALIEN ACT – authorized the President
to deport any aliens considered
dangerous and to detain enemy
citizens in time of war
•SEDITION ACT – made it illegal for
newspaper editors to criticize either
the President or Congress and
imposed heavy penalties (fined or
imprisoned) for editors who violated
the laws

​Important Acts

​Alien & Sedition Acts Continued

• ​1798-These were passed into law by John Adams and the Federalists who held most of the power in Congress.

• Wanted to prevent French Government from interfering in the American Government

• Federalists were thought of as being too powerful in government

• Democratic Republicans and Thomas Jefferson were proven right

​Outcome of These Acts

• ​America temporarily lost Freedom of Speech, something it fought a war against less than twenty years before

• Sedition Act made it illegal to print, utter, or publish false or scandalous material about the US Government, Congress, or the President.

• Adams and the Federalists wanted to publish Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans

​Backlash against the Alien and Sedition Acts

• ​Even though government did not arrest or deport people, the acts had a very negative impact on the popularity of the Federalist Party and John Adams

• Americans were outraged

• Many saw these acts as the Federal Government abusing its power and limiting the rights of the people

• Proved Jefferson and Democratic republicans correct about Federalists

​Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

• ​Democratic-Republicans fought back and argued that Alien and Sedition Acts were Unconstitutional

• Violated first Amendment in a big way

• They did not have support of national law due to Federalists being in power

• It set the idea that states can challenge the federal government and go to supreme court if necessary...was the main takeaway

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys4E4Xle1T8

​Alien + Sedition Act