The Presidency The Presidency of John Adamsof John Adams

1797-18011797-1801

President John Adams by John Singleton Copley

A Contentious A Contentious Beginning…Beginning…

• Political parties had developed into powerful Political parties had developed into powerful forces in the statesforces in the states– States control electoral college, electors in each state cast

two votes each for a presidential candidate

• According to the According to the ConstitutionConstitution::– The candidate with the highest number of electoral votes

becomes President of the United States– The candidate with the second highest number of electoral

votes becomes the Vice President of the United States

• What potential problems (flaws) can you What potential problems (flaws) can you foresee happening with this selection foresee happening with this selection process?process?

John AdamsJohn AdamsFederalistFederalist

Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonDemocratic-RepublicanDemocratic-Republican

Election of 1796: Election of 1796: Meet the CandidatesMeet the Candidates

Electoral Votes-1796Electoral Votes-1796

On this week’s episode of On this week’s episode of Desperate Founding Desperate Founding

FathersFathers……• Electoral College Results:Electoral College Results:

– Adams—71 votes– Jefferson—68 votes

• TheThe Constitution Constitution Says… Says…– Two candidates with the most votes become

President and Vice President! So…..

• President Adams and Vice President President Adams and Vice President Jefferson are from different political Jefferson are from different political partiesparties

• This is changed by Amendment XII (1804) This is changed by Amendment XII (1804) • Predictions?Predictions?

The Twelfth Amendment The Twelfth Amendment (1804)(1804)

• Amendment XII (1804)Amendment XII (1804)– Required presidential electors to vote

separately for president & vice president

Twelfth AmendmentTwelfth AmendmentThe Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-

President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President and in they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-Presidentdistinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists , and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House the Senate;--The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted;--The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the listthe list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the immediately, by ballot, the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of President whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President.--The person having the greatest death or other constitutional disability of the President.--The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Vice-President of the United States.

President AdamsPresident Adams

• The Goods:The Goods:– Age: 62 (stuffy figure)– Stats: 5 foot 7 inches– Sharp figure, bald

• Personality:Personality:– He was a man of stern principles who

did his duty with stubborn devotion.– Educated, tactless, prickly

intellectual aristocrat– No appeal to the masses (the

common people)

• Adams had Huge Shoes to Adams had Huge Shoes to Fill!Fill!– No successor could hope to fill

Washington’s shoes, as he was perhaps the greatest man alive at the time.

Adams’ Bitter Rival: Adams’ Bitter Rival: Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton

• He served at the Secretary He served at the Secretary of the Treasury in of the Treasury in Washington’s CabinetWashington’s Cabinet– Hamilton resigned in 1795

• He He hatedhated John Adams John Adams– He headed the faction of the

Federalist party known as the “High Federalists”

– Secretly plotted with certain members of Adams’ cabinet against the president

• Adams on HamiltonAdams on Hamilton– He regarded Hamilton as:

• “the most ruthless, impatient, artful, indefatigable and unprincipled intriguer in the United States, if not the world.”

Can Adams & Jefferson Work Can Adams & Jefferson Work Together?Together?

• It almost works at firstIt almost works at first– Adams and Jefferson have a lot of mutual respect

from Revolutionary days– Adams states support for republican government,

respect for French, offers Madison high position as envoy to France

• But Federalist cabinet (mostly But Federalist cabinet (mostly Washington loyalists) protests and wins.Washington loyalists) protests and wins.– Doesn’t take control of cabinet until last year of his

presidency

• Beginning of the end of support for AdamsBeginning of the end of support for Adams

Domestic PolicyDomestic PolicyWhen Adams was president he followed Washington's lead in making the presidency the example of republican values, and stressing civic virtue, he was never involved in any scandal. Adams decided to keep the old cabinet, which was controlled by Hamilton, instead of installing his own people. Which is looked upon by some historians as his worst presidential decision. Yet, there are other historians who feel that Adams's decision to keep Washington's cabinet was a statesman-like step to soothe worries about an orderly succession. Adams's combative spirit did not always lend itself to presidential decorum, he always had something to say and sometimes it was not of the classiest taste.

Unofficial Fighting with Unofficial Fighting with FranceFrance

The French furious with Jay’s treatyThe French furious with Jay’s treaty• They saw the treaty as a flagrant violation of the

Franco-American Treaty of 1778• French believed the U.S. was moving close to creating

an alliance with Britain, France’s perpetual foe.• In retaliation, the French began seizing defenseless

American merchant ships (about 300 total by mid-1797)

• French refused to receive the American envoy (ambassador) and threatened to arrest him.

Unofficial Fighting with Unofficial Fighting with FranceFrance

• Adams reacts:Adams reacts:– Adams keeps his cool & follows Washington’s policy

to steer clear of war at all costs– He tried to keep the peace between the United

States and France at all costs• He appointed a diplomatic commission of three

men (including future Chief Justice John Marshall) to head to France for peace negotiations

The XYZ AffairThe XYZ Affair

• Adams’s envoys reach Adams’s envoys reach Paris in 1797 hoping to Paris in 1797 hoping to meet Talleyrand, the meet Talleyrand, the crafty French foreign crafty French foreign ministerminister

• American envoys American envoys secretly approached by secretly approached by three go-betweens, later three go-betweens, later referred to as X, Y, and Z referred to as X, Y, and Z in the public dispatches in the public dispatches (records/newspapers)(records/newspapers)

Charles Maurice Talleyrand

The XYZ Affair: The The XYZ Affair: The BribeBribe

• French spokesmen demanded that in order to French spokesmen demanded that in order to merely “talk” with Talleyrand, they had to:merely “talk” with Talleyrand, they had to:

– Provide them with an unneutral loan of 32 million florins

– A bribe of about $250,000• American Envoys reaction:American Envoys reaction:

– Believed these terms were intolerable– While knowing European diplomacy usually

involved bribes, they gagged at the possibility of handing over a quarter of a million dollars

– There were no assurances that the diplomats would even talk to Talleyrand, let alone no assurances for a peace agreement

– John Marshall returned to the United States to brief the President

Public Opinion toward France Public Opinion toward France ShiftsShifts

The XYZ affair - Maiden America ravaged by the FrenchThe XYZ affair - Maiden America ravaged by the French

5 members of the Directory in France

Britain looking on from on high

Rest of the world looking on

Fallout from XYZ AffairFallout from XYZ Affair

• War hysteria swept through the United War hysteria swept through the United StatesStates

• Many Americans (mostly Federalists) calling Many Americans (mostly Federalists) calling for war with Francefor war with France– Hamilton, others thought U.S. could gain land– Slogan of the hour: “Millions for defense, but not one

cent for tribute!”

• The United States Prepares for War?The United States Prepares for War?– Navy Department was created (three ship navy

expanded)– United States Marine Corps was reestablished (created

in 1775, but was disbanded after the Revolutionary War)– New Army of 10,000 men was authorized (but not fully

raised)

The U.S. & France: Undeclared The U.S. & France: Undeclared Hostilities (1798-1800)Hostilities (1798-1800)

• Fighting took place mostly on the high seas Fighting took place mostly on the high seas (mostly in the West Indies)(mostly in the West Indies)– American privateers, men-of-war, and the new navy

captured over 80 French vessels– Several Hundred American ships were lost to the

French

• While American public opinion was clamoring While American public opinion was clamoring for war, President Adams felt that U.S. Army for war, President Adams felt that U.S. Army and Navy were not strong enough to fight a and Navy were not strong enough to fight a major powermajor power– Sends new ministers instead

• Unpopular move, but….?Unpopular move, but….?

Adams: Peace Talks, Take Adams: Peace Talks, Take 2…2…

• Talleyrand agrees to receive a new American Talleyrand agrees to receive a new American envoy and treat with respect & dignityenvoy and treat with respect & dignity

• While Adams contemplated going to war with While Adams contemplated going to war with France, he decided to avoid war at all costsFrance, he decided to avoid war at all costs– Adams initially felt a war with France (like Hamilton) could

have been lucrative: gaining land (Spanish Florida & Louisiana) and possibility lining himself up for reelection for a second term

– Adams ultimately kept in line with Washington’s policy of neutrality and keeping out of European wars

• When he announced to the Senate he was When he announced to the Senate he was going to send a new minister to France…going to send a new minister to France…– Hamilton was furious (he wanted to go to war with France)– Reasonable Federalists and Jeffersonians were receptive,

agreeing that avoiding war was the best course of action

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

• Seized dictatorial control of Seized dictatorial control of France, thus ending the French France, thus ending the French RevolutionRevolution

• Had designs on creating a “New Had designs on creating a “New World Empire” in LouisianaWorld Empire” in Louisiana

• Napoleon met with American Napoleon met with American envoys in 1800:envoys in 1800:– Treaty of Convention of 1800 (signed in

Paris)• France agreed to annul the Franco-

American Treaty (1778)• American government agreed to pay the

damage claims of American shippers• Ended American entanglements in

Europe during a time of peace

Napoleon Bonaparte

Significance of the Significance of the Convention Convention

of 1800of 1800• Adams avoided the hazards of war with France.Adams avoided the hazards of war with France.• Laid the groundwork for the future purchase of Laid the groundwork for the future purchase of

the Louisiana Territory from France (1803)the Louisiana Territory from France (1803)• If the U.S. had engaged in a war against If the U.S. had engaged in a war against

France, Napoleon probably wouldn’t have sold France, Napoleon probably wouldn’t have sold the U.S. Louisianathe U.S. Louisiana

Federalists Take ControlFederalists Take Control

• Public anger with France strengthens Public anger with France strengthens Federalists in CongressFederalists in Congress– Win majority of both houses in 1798– Enacted laws that were restrictive to Democratic-

Republican rivals

• What did Washington warn about again?What did Washington warn about again?

Naturalization ActNaturalization Act

What did it do?What did it do?• Increases from five to fourteen Increases from five to fourteen

number of years required to qualify number of years required to qualify for U.S. citizenshipfor U.S. citizenship

Why would it favor the Federalists?Why would it favor the Federalists?• Most immigrants voted with the Most immigrants voted with the

Democratic-RepublicansDemocratic-Republicans

Alien ActsAlien Acts

What did it do?What did it do?• Authorized the president to deport Authorized the president to deport

any aliens considered to be dangerousany aliens considered to be dangerous• Authorized the president to detain Authorized the president to detain

any enemy aliens in a time of warany enemy aliens in a time of war

Why would it favor the Federalists?Why would it favor the Federalists?• Democratic-Republicans sympathetic Democratic-Republicans sympathetic

to the French Revolutionto the French Revolution

Sedition ActSedition Act

What did it do?What did it do?• Makes it illegal for newspapers to criticize the Makes it illegal for newspapers to criticize the

president or Congresspresident or Congress• Imposed heavy penalties Imposed heavy penalties

for editors who violated for editors who violated the new lawthe new law– Fines– Imprisonment

Why would it favor Why would it favor the Federalists?the Federalists?• Are you kidding?Are you kidding?

Representative Matthew Lyon of Vermont, arrested under the Sedition Act of 1798, attacking a fellow congressman

Responses to Alien and Responses to Alien and Sedition ActsSedition Acts

• Republicans say that they violate First Republicans say that they violate First AmendmentAmendment– Judicial Review not yet established, so no Supreme

Court case

• Kentucky and Virginia ResolutionsKentucky and Virginia Resolutions– Written, respectively, by Jefferson and Madison

• Argument: Since states had entered into Argument: Since states had entered into the compact (Constitution), they can the compact (Constitution), they can nullify a federal law that breaks the nullify a federal law that breaks the agreement. Try to get other state agreement. Try to get other state legislatures enact “nullification” laws. legislatures enact “nullification” laws. They didn’t.They didn’t.

The Crisis FadesThe Crisis Fades

• Federalists, due to the unpopularity Federalists, due to the unpopularity of these laws, lose their majority in of these laws, lose their majority in the election of 1800the election of 1800– Republicans allow the Alien and Sedition Acts

to expire or repeal parts of them– Under John Marshall, Supreme Court will

establish role as the last resort in determining if a law is constitutional

• News of a new peace with France News of a new peace with France doesn’t make it to the U.S. until doesn’t make it to the U.S. until after the electionafter the election

Judging AdamsJudging Adams

• Keeps U.S. out of war, Keeps U.S. out of war, preserves neutralitypreserves neutrality

• Strengthens the NavyStrengthens the Navy• Peaceful transfer of Peaceful transfer of

power to opposing power to opposing political party in 1800political party in 1800

• Relationship with Relationship with France damagedFrance damaged

• New taxes imposedNew taxes imposed• Party politics Party politics

become become entrenchedentrenched

Dislike for the Federalist Congress and the Dislike for the Federalist Congress and the Alien and Sedition Acts cost Adams his Alien and Sedition Acts cost Adams his

reelection and gave control of Congress to the reelection and gave control of Congress to the Republicans. But in weighing his presidency, Republicans. But in weighing his presidency, we have to consider the negative along with we have to consider the negative along with

the positive:the positive:

Presidential RankJohn Adams, I feel ranks among the top ten of presidents in our country’s history. I rank him as number 8 on the list of presidents for a number of reasons. He established and maintained foreign policy making the United States a larger player in worldly affairs and made a number of changes in our nations first 50 years.

Electoral Vote (1800)Electoral Vote (1800)

• EndEnd