Federalists Ascendant

ADAMS’ PRESIDENCY

STARTER – OCTOBER 8TH

What two things did George Washington warn of us in his farewell address?

STARTER – OCTOBER 9TH

Should the political opposition have the right to criticize a president’s foreign policy?

STARTER – OCTOBER 10TH

What were the effects and Alien and Sedition Acts?

Development of Political Parties

Washington “above” politics, but a federalist

Federalist party emerges John Adams, Hamilton, etc

Characteristics Pro industrial development

Pro British

Pro strong central government

“Looser” interpretation of Constitution

Development of Political Parties

Democratic-Republicans (D-Rs) Thomas Jefferson, Madison, etc

Characteristics Pro agriculture

Pro revolutionary France

Pro “common” man

Pro States rights (vs. strong central government)

Strict interpretation of Constitution

Election of 1796

First post-Washington election

John Adams (F) – 71 EV

Thomas Jefferson (D-R) – 68 EV

Thomas Pinckney (F) – 59 EV

Aaron Burr (D-R) – 30 EV

President = John Adams (F)VP = Thomas Jefferson (D-R)

President, VP From Different Parties

Constitution

President to be person with most EVs

VP to be person with second most EVs

No concept of “ticket” or pres, VP running together

Founders did not anticipate rise of political parties

Became big problem in Adams’ Admin.

VP Jefferson Pres. Adams

John Adams

Born in Massachusetts

Raised a “puritan-lite” Became a lawyer

Second cousins to Samuel Adams

Joined patriot cause after Stamp Act

Popularized argument “no taxation without representation”

John Adams

During Rev. War, served in Continental Congress Served on “Committee of 5” Looked to for advice on

forming governments / writing constitutions

Adams in Europe

1777 – Adams sent to France as diplomat

Sent back to Europe to negotiate peace treaty, 1779-80

Continued to serve as ambassador to Holland (1780-82), England (1785-88)

Portrait of Treaty of Paris negotiators(British refused to pose – portrait neverFinished)

Vice President Adams

Came in second in election of 1788, 1792 (second of revolutionary generation, only after Washington)

Washington rarely asked Adams’ opinion

Adams’ main job = president of Senate

His opinion on the Vice-presidency:

"My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."

President Adams: Foreign Policy

Continued neutrality Adams wanted to stay out

of war between Britain, France

Problem: Jay’s Treaty angered French, so they began attacking American shipping

Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with French (Pinckney, Gerry, Marshall)

French (in distance) bearing downon damaged American ship

John Adams: XYZ Affair

Three French agents demanded $250k bribe, $12 million loan to help French fight wars and public apology just to let Americans see French foreign minister

Americans went home, instead

Americans (at left) facing Frenchrevolutionary demands, in US

newspaper cartoon

John Adams: XYZ Affair

Jefferson demanded to see reports from diplomats (Why?)

Released to public, changing French agents’ names to X, Y and Z

Huge public outcry: “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”

Token handed out during XYZ Affair

Assignment

The scenario: Imagine that someone is blackmailing you for $1,000. If you do not pay, they will tell your parents (or friends, boyfriend, etc) your deepest darkest secret. You have the money to pay them….but you really don’t want to.

What is your final decision? Why?

JOHN ADAMS: “QUASI-WAR”

Quasi-War: No declaration, but French, American warships attacked each other and merchant ships

American negotiators offered French same terms as Jays Treaty, but French refused

1800: Adams renegotiated treaty US drops claim for damaged

merchant ships France released US from alliance

of 1778 Weakened US affection for

French

USS Constellation – active duringQuasi War

John Adams: Domestic Affairs Alien-Sedition Acts (1798)

Alien Friends Act Authorized the president to deport any resident alien

considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.”

Aimed at French sympathizers Alien Enemies Act (still in effect)

authorized the president to apprehend and deport resident aliens if their home countries were at war with the United States

Naturalization Act Extended the duration of residence required for aliens to

become citizens to 14 years Sedition Act

made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials

John Adams: Domestic Affairs Reaction to Sedition Act Jefferson: Unconstitutional!!

First Amendment Tenth Amendment No Judicial Review yet (M v M in 1803) –

thus, exercise of “undelegated powers” by Feds

TJ, James Madison introduce KY and VA Resolutions Called on states to nullify laws Compact theory: US made up of

voluntary union of states giving some power to central gov’t; but states do not give away their sovereignty

If state’s sovereignty violated, then state had right to nullify Federal act or secede from union

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the Press . . .”

John Adams: Domestic AffairsAlien-Sedition Acts in

Action No aliens deported (many

fled) 25 people, mainly D-R

newspaper editors, arrested under Sedition Act (incl. 1 congressman!)

11 tried, 10 convictedLed to end of Federalist

Party Federalists tossed out of

office After his election, President

Jefferson pardoned all those convicted under Sedition Act

The power of the press . . .

The 1800 Election

One of the nastiest elections ever (slander, personal attacks) Jefferson v. Adams Campaign destroyed

friendship, for years Jefferson, Burr tie; election

goes to Federalist House On 35 ballots, deadlocked 8

states to 8 states On 36th ballot, Hamilton

convinced other Federalists to change vote to Jefferson (Burr was personal enemy)

Jefferson (D-R) 73Burr (D-R) 73J. Adams (F) 65Pinckney (F) 64

1800 Election Aftermath

12th Amendment President, VP run as a ticket Each elector casts 1 vote for a president, & 1

vote for a VP President, VP must win absolute majority of EC

votes Deadlocks go to House, where each state gets

one vote for any of top 3 ticketsFederalists lose control of legislature, Fed

bureaucracyAdams: Midnight appointments to judiciary

(eventually leads to Marbury v. Madison)

New Republic Timeline

Constitutional Convention Shay’s Rebellion Adoption of the Articles of

Confederation Shays’ Rebellion George Washington’s

Presidency John Adam’s Presidency XYZ Affair Election of 1796 Election of 1800 Jay’s Treaty Whiskey Rebellion

Choose 8 of the events listed below. You will plot those 8 events on a timeline. You will draw a picture in the background

of your timeline that represents on of those events.

On the back or a separate sheet of paper, write a 3 sentence description of each even you chose.

Pinckney’s Treaty Judiciary Act of 1789 Quasi-War Alien and Sedition Acts Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Adoption of the Constitution