Adams Presidency

Following George Washington was not
easy. I mean, how do you follow the
nation’s first president? How do you
follow the FATHER of the Country???
When John Adams entered the
presidency there were problems brewing
in Europe, particularly in France & Great
Britain.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

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Multiple Choice

Who did John Adams follow as President?

• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• James Madison
• Benjamin Franklin

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

When Adams entered office he inherited the

same question Washington faced…

Should the United States remain neutral in the

fighting between Great Britain & France?

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Multiple Choice

President Adams had to decide wether to remain neutral in the fighting between :

• Spain and Portugal
• Italy and Germany
• Russia and Japan
• France and Great Britain

Adams did not have much of a choice. Both
France & Britain were seizing American ships
and forcing those captured into the navy.

Over the course of the Washington
presidency, over 200 ships were seized by
pirates. No, not Jack Sparrow but French &
British ships. John Adams was not happy
with the 200 ships seized by France over the
course of his first few years as president.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

These were the original pirates of the

ocean blue.

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Multiple Choice

During the presidency of Washington approximately how many ships were seized by the French and British

• Approximately 500 ships were seized.
• Approximately 150 ships were seized.
• Approximately 200 ships were seized.

• Approximately 100 ships were seized.

Why were the French seizing ships? They
were looting goods. Why were they looting goods? Well, we asked their help during our Revolution and we as a nation refused to help them during theirs. They were not happy.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

The French helped us during the
American Revolution. We did not

return the favor.

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Multiple Choice

Why were the French seizing American ships during Adams' administration

• The French were enforcing a blockade against British ships.
• The French were retaliating against American trade with Spain.
• We refused them aid during their revolution and they were not happy.

• The French wanted to expand their territory in America.

The Quasi-War: An
Undeclared Naval Battle

●The Quasi-War was a naval conflict
between the U.S. and France from
1798-1800

●It started because France was upset about
a treaty between the U.S. and Britain

●French ships attacked American merchant
vessels in the Caribbean

●The U.S. Navy fought back, capturing
French ships

●Why do you think it was called a
"Quasi-War" instead of a regular war?

Multiple Choice

How did the United States fight back during the Quasi War?

• The United States strengthened its navy and captured French ships.

• The United States reduced its military presence in the Caribbean.
• The United States focused on land battles against British forces.
• The United States signed a peace treaty with France immediately.

These ships were often seized by force, soldiers were then captured
and forced into the navy, and then the boat and a few sailors were sent
on their merry way after all goods were taken.

Impressment, as it was called, was common on the high seas, and sent
Adams and the American government over the edge.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

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Multiple Choice

What is impressment?

• A method of voluntary enlistment in the army.
• A type of naval blockade used in wartime.
• Impressment is the forcible recruitment of individuals into military service.
• A legal process for drafting civilians into government jobs.

In 1797, Adams was fed up! He sent
three Americans to France to negotiate
some peace on the high seas: no more
seizing ships, no more stealing goods,
etc. The American ambassadors were
told to meet with Charles de Talleyrand
(a French diplomat). They were
instead met by three Frenchmen who
are later called “X, Y, & Z”.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

The United States was not too happy with these X, Y, and Z

characters.

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The Frenchmen demanded a bribe of
$250,000 just to meet with Talleyrand
and a loan to the French government
for $10 million to help pay for their war
and revolution. Ridiculous! The
American ambassadors DID NOT pay
any of it, angrily left France, came
home, told Adams...and boy was he
mad! Adams then started to brace for
the worst, building an American Navy
to prepare for war with France.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

Political cartoon based on the attempted bribery of the

American ambassadors.

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Open Ended

In the X,Y,Z Affair what did the government of France want? Did they get it?

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

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THE ALIEN & SEDITION ACTS

1. The Naturalization Act extended the number of years a person had to reside in the United States before becoming a citizen

from five to fourteen years.

2. The Alien Act authorized the President

to deport any resident alien considered
dangerous to the peace and safety of the

United States.

3. The Alien Enemies Act authorized the
President to apprehend and deport resident

4. The Sedition Act made it a crime to
publish false, scandalous and malicious

writing against the government or

certain officials.

At home, Adams feared that aliens living in the U.S. would side with the
French during a war and so he passed the Alien & Sedition Acts.

Alien An alien is any individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. A nonresident alien is an alien who has not passed the green card test or the substantial presence test.

Multiple Choice

What did Adams fear about aliens living in the U.S.?

• He believed they would bring advanced technology to the U.S.
• He thought they would increase job opportunities for Americans.
• He was concerned they would promote international cooperation.
• He feared they would side with the French during a war.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

Many Americans thought the Alien &
Sedition Acts violated their free speech
and freedom of the press. How could
you possibly pass a law that makes it a
crime to speak against the
government???

Uncle Sam “Wants You” to be quiet!

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John Adams believed in freedom and rights so much that he defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre? Things change I guess...

Multiple Choice

Why were many Americans upset by the Alien and Sedition Act?

• It encouraged free speech and open debate.
• It promoted immigration and welcomed foreigners.
• It was widely supported by all political parties.
• Due to its suppression of free speech and freedom of the press.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

1798-1799 Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions

In response to the Alien & Sedition Acts,
the state governments of Virginia &
Kentucky had meetings stating the Alien
& Sedition Acts were unconstitutional.
Both governments voted they would
refuse to follow and enforce the law and
that all states had the right to “nullify”
laws they believed violated the rights of
the citizens of the states. Is this
constitutional for the states to ignore
federal laws?

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Multiple Choice

How did states respond to the Alien and Sedition Acts?

• States fully supported the Alien and Sedition Acts.
• States responded by asserting their right to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts.

• States ignored the Alien and Sedition Acts entirely.
• States called for a national referendum on the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Midnight Judges: A
Last-Minute Political Move

●Midnight judges were appointed by
President John Adams at the end of his
term

●Adams and the Federalists wanted to keep
some power after losing the election

●They quickly passed a law to create new
judge positions

●Adams appointed these judges late at night
before leaving office

●How do you think the incoming president,
Thomas Jefferson, felt about this?

Multiple Choice

What were the midnight judges?

• Judges appointed by Thomas Jefferson in 1800.
• Judges who served only during the night shifts.
• Judges who were elected by the public in 1801.
• Judges appointed by John Adams in 1801 just before he left office.

THE PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS

In 1800, John Adams lost a chance at
reelection against his Vice President,
Thomas Jefferson. After Jefferson won
the election, Adams becomes the very
first single term president.

Adams, so bitterly upset about his
defeat, left Washington, DC, and the
White House early on the morning of
Jefferson’s inauguration, and refused to
attend the ceremony.

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