The John Adams Presidency1797-1801

John Adams 2nd President

• Without George Washington Political Parties Exploded.

• Federalists and Democratic Republicans are note talking with each other

• Election between Thomas Jefferson—leading Democratic Republican; John Adams; and Thomas Pickney

• Adams earns 71 votes; Jefferson 68 and Pickney 59

• Adams does not trust his VP--Jefferson

John Adams the Man

• Long record of patriotism, extensive background

• Bright and capable, but stubborn and difficult to deal with

• Tough act to follow in replacing Jefferson

John Adams

Adams as President

• Term was characterized by failure and controversy….

• Quasi-War with France (XYZ Affair)

• Alien and Sedition Acts• Virginia and Kentucky

Resolutions• “Midnight Judges”• Positive: kept US out of

war with France

The XYZ Affair

Europe’s state early 1800’s•Napoleonic Wars

• War between Napoleon (France) and Europe• French Revolution was in full swing

•France wanted same trade rights as US had set up with Britain•Adams sent diplomatsJohn Marshall, Charles Pinckney, and Elridge Gerry to France to negotiate a trade agreement between Napoleonic France and USA

The XYZ Affair

The French Insult of US Diplomats•The French diplomat sends 3 agents (called X,Y, and Z) to demand a bribe to meet with French diplomats.•Americans were insulted by this demand

• Americans Wanted War with France• US Congress cuts off ALL trade with France• US announces the Navy may capture French vessels

• Adams does not back done…viewed as a hero!• “We will spend millions on defense but not one cent on tributes”

Alien & Sedition Acts

--War was expected between France & US due to X,Y, Z affair.--Alien and Sedition Acts were passed to keep refugees from both sides of the French Revolution who came to America from having an influence on the American government. --Strong anti-French sentiment in US at the time

Alien and Sedition Acts

1. Citizenship wait time changed from 5 to 14 years2. All Foreigners must register with the Government3. The President can jail/ expel anyone who threatens the safety of the US

US Sedition Act:1.Made it illegal to write/speak against the actions of the Gov.Results of Alien and Sedition Act:Democratic-Republicans believe that the Alien and Sedition Acts violate the First Amendment and were an invasion of states' rights.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Drafted by Jefferson (Kentucky) and Madison (Virginia).

• Stated the following.1. The Constitution was a compact compact

between sovereign states.2. Each state had "an equal an equal right to judge right to judge

for itselffor itself" when the Constitution had Constitution had

been violatedbeen violated.3. IMPORTANT: A state can A state can declare a law declare a law

of Congress of Congress unconstitutionalunconstitutional.

Results of VA and KY Resolution

• Immediate impact was little, with neither state doing anything substantial.• Would set a precedent for sectionalism and

the states' rights debate later.

• Will lead to secession of the South in the Civil War