Download - John Adams Cornell Notes
John Adams• Elected President
in 1796 as a
FEDERALIST
• Vice-Pres. –
Thomas Jefferson
(Republican)
• President for one
term
Foreign Policy: Conflicts with France
XYZ Affair• France begins to capture American ships after U.S.
refuses to help them in war against Britain
• Adams sent representatives to work out peace with
France. They were met by 3 secret agents who
said their names were “X”, “Y”, and “Z”
• France says they won’t stop attacking ships unless
U.S. pays them off.
• Adams refuses to pay and refuses to declare war on
France. “Not one penny for Tribute!”
• Adams Tells American Ships they have permission
to fight back against the French.
War with France?!
I feel that John Adams should choose to… because…
War with France?!
• A. Hamilton pushed John Adams to go to war with
France.
• Adams knew America was not ready for another war.
• In February 1799, Adams sent representatives to
work out a peace treaty with France.
• Hamilton and the Federalists were furious at Adams
and turned there backs on him making him
unpopular.
• Adams never regretted his decision to make peace
with France.
Alien and Sedition Acts• Federalists in Congress passed the Alien and
Sedition Acts (4 laws). Created to make life
difficult for the Republicans.– 3 of the laws made it difficult for immigrants to
become citizens and able to vote.
– 1 law made it illegal to say or print anything bad
about the government or the President.
• John Adams approved and signed them into
law.
• Thomas Jefferson bitterly opposed
the Alien and Sedition Acts as a
violation of the rights of citizens
• James Madison wrote the Virginia
and Kentucky Resolutions. It
stated that if a stated decides a
law is unconstitutional, it has the
power to nullify (cancel) that law
within its borders
Opposition to the Acts and States’ Rights
John Adams as President
• Adams kept the United States out of war with
France even though it cost him his career in
government and politics
• The Federalist Party turned their back on Adams
and Alexander Hamilton did not support him in
the Election of 1800.
• Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans hated
the Alien and Sedition Acts because they
violated the rights of Americans.
Grading John Adams…
I feel John Adams earned… (A, B, C, or F) as President because…