Presidency of John Adams1796 -- 1800

• Nations first 2 presidents were chosen as the best leaders for the country!

• By the 3rd election (1796) political parties had become a part of the political process

• Republicans supported Jefferson farmers from the West and South

• Federalists supported John Adams appealed to lawyers, merchants, ship owners and business people from the North

• Adams won by 3 votes, Jefferson came in 2nd and became VP-top 2 leaders were from opposing pol. Parties.

Alien and Sedition Acts

• At first 2 men tried to work together Party violence made cooperation useless

• Federalist in Congress passed 4 controversial laws

• Claimed laws were needed as protection against foreigners who might threaten the nation– Real purpose was to make life difficult for the

Federalists’ rivals, the Republicans

Alien Acts

• 3 of the laws were directed at aliens (non-citizens)

• 1st Law: extended time it took to become a citizen (immigrants voted Republican)

• 2nd & 3rd laws: President could deport immigrants suspected of causing trouble– Weren't really enforced, but scared some people

Sedition Acts

• Sedition: crime of encouraging rebellion against the government

• This act made sedition a crime it included printing, writing, or speaking in a malicious was against the government– Is this constitutional, what amendment does this remind

you of?• Used law to punish Republican newspaper editor

who insulted Adams• 25 arrested/10 convicted of seditious opinions

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Republicans viewed sedition acts as an attack on free speech/press looked to states to protect these freedoms

• Jefferson/Madison wrote resolutions to oppose the Alien/Sedition Acts

• Argued congress had gone beyond Constitution in passing these acts

• States had a duty to nullify the laws-declare them to be without legal force.– Only Virginia and Kentucky adopted the resolutions-rights not

specifically given to the federal government belong to the states (states’ rights theory)

Election of 1800

• Republicans backed Jefferson and Aaron Burr• Jefferson wanted states’ rights/simple gov’t• Federalists backed John Adams and Charles

Pinckney– Federalists preferred Hamilton: worked behind the

scenes to convince men chosen for the Electoral College to cast pres. Vote for Pinckney. Hamilton wanted to personally guide the new gov’t

• Adams ran on record of peace/prosperity• Campaign run on insults rather than issues

A Deadlock and a New Amendment

• After the Electoral College voted in 1801 it was clear Adams lost, but to whom????

• Electors cast 2 votes: Most votes=President/2nd most=V.P All Republicans voted for Jefferson and Burr

• Result was a tie!!• If there is a tie votes go to the H.O.R (each

state has 1 vote)

A Deadlock and a New Amendment (cont’d)

• Burr should have told his supporters to vote for Jefferson, as the party wanted

• He said nothing hoping the election would go his way….after the House voted the was another TIE!!!

• After 5 days and 35 ballots there was still a tie• Hamilton broke the deadlock Jefferson, he

considered to be far less dangerous

A Deadlock and a New Amendment (cont’d)

• 1804-12th Amendment added• Calls for the Electoral College to cast separate

ballots for President/VP• If no pres. Candidate gets majority, the H.O.R

chooses a President from the top 3 candidates• If no VP candidate get majority, the Senate

chooses• Victory for the new system of government!!• Power passed hands w/o a single shot!!