UNIT 2 NOTES:

JOHN ADAMS AND THOMAS JEFFERSON

JOHN ADAMS The biggest issue Adams will deal with

during his term will be foreign relations These are continuing issues from

Washington’s presidency Problems with Britain were obvious, but

they also began to drift towards war with France

THE ELECTION OF 1796 In 1796 American experiences their first

contested presidential election

In line with custom, neither candidate campaigned in personAlexander Hamilton lobbies Federalists to

support Thomas Pinckney because he knew he could not manipulate the morally upright John Adams

Adams wins the election and Jefferson is his VP

XYZ AFFAIR France regarded Jay’s Treaty as an American-

British Alliance

The officials were soon met by secret agents sent by the French foreign minister, not allowed to see the Directory They were identified only by Agents X, Y, and Z

They demanded a bribe of $250,000 and a $10 million loan to the French before being allowed to meet the foreign minister

Became known as the XYZ Affair

WAR WITH FRANCE – KIND OF President Adams asked Congress to

prepare for war, French responded by seizing more American ships

In April 1798, an undeclared naval war began between France and the United States in the Caribbean that lasted for a year

XYZ CLIPhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw0KcA5

9_8s

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS The XZY affair created a surge of anti-French hostility in

America

The federalist dominated Congress used the war and Adams popularity to pass several “wartime” measures They were passed without Adams consent

Alien and Sedition Acts (1789) Series of 4 laws - First 3 directed at immigrants Fourth Act – the Sedition Act gained the most opposition It set jail terms and fines for persons who advocate disobedience to

federal law or who printed/spoke false statements about the government with intent to defame

Included: increase size of army, higher taxes to support army and navy

Used to silence Republican opposition

VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS

Republicans charged that the Acts violated the first amendment appealed to states for help But the Constitution did not outline who had the authority

to judge whether acts of Congress violated the Constitution Madison and Jefferson believed the states should make that

judgment Jefferson and James Madison proposed the Virginia

and Kentucky resolves Reminded Congress of 10th Amendment which gives

powers not mentioned in Constitution to the States Constitution was a “compact” between sovereign states

and states could nullify federal laws they deemed unconstitutional

The resolves actually had little effect and neither state acted upon the resolutions

LOOMING ELECTION TENSIONS The election of 1800 would be unique It would be a rematch from four years

earlier John Adams vs Thomas JeffersonPresident vs Vice President

It was also another contest between Federalist who supported a strong central government and Republicans who supported state authority

ADAMS LOSES SUPPORT Adams reached his height of popularity with the

XYZ Affair However, he knew he could not keep going with the

naval war with France In seeking a peaceful resolution he angered

many Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton Many Federalists wanted a formal declaration of war

Adams sends a 2nd diplomatic mission in 1799 which helps end the conflict This loses him support from more aggressive

Federalists within his own party (Hamilton) The alien and Sedition Acts became even more

unpopular now that the threat of war was gone

THE JEFFERSON CAMPAIGN Democratic Republicans and Thomas Jefferson approached the

election of 1800 more organized and determined than in 1796

Republican Campaign: Actions of federalists were expensive, unwise, unconstitutional

When the electoral votes were counted, Jefferson and his running mate and ally, Aaron Burr had tied with 73 electoral votes

Under Article II of the Constitution, there is a procedure if two candidates are tied or do not have enough electoral votes Federalists Congress would have to decide the election between two

Republicans With support from Alexander Hamilton, The House chooses Jefferson as

President after a close vote

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES George Washington John Adams Thomas Jefferson

So Far………

JOHN ADAMS IN REVIEW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqAt

8A0W204&feature=related

JEFFERSON’S AGENDA Thomas Jefferson entered office with a

straight forward agenda:Reduce the influence, size, and expense of

the National Government To do this he reversed much of what Federalists

had done This began with his personal style He did not want to destroy federal

government or undo everything federalists had done, he just wanted to limit the national government’s presence in people’s lives

REDUCING GOVERNMENT Government:

Cut taxes & reduced federal bureaucracy Made the most substantial cuts in the

military

Repealed the parts of Alien and Sedition Acts that had not expired

During his administration the national debt fell from $80 million to $57 million

THE MIDNIGHT JUDGES The most controversial part of Jefferson’s first term

was his relationship with the Supreme Court The Constitution did not fully explain the role of the

Supreme Court Judiciary Acts (1789) help fill in the gaps

Judiciary Act of 1801 was aimed to limit Jefferson’s ability to appoint judges It decreased number of Supreme Court justices and

increased number of federal judges President John Adams quickly filled these positions

before he left office These last minute appointments were known as the

midnight judges

JOHN MARSHALL One of the last minute judicial

appointments was John MarshallHe was sworn in as Chief Justice on Feb. 4th,

1801Served that post for 34 years until death in

1835Helped build the authority of the Supreme

CourtCommitted to federalists idea of national

power

MARBURY V. MADISON (1803) Case arose when Jefferson tried to deny

the appointments of Federal judges appointed by AdamsAdams had appointed William Marbury as

justice of the peace in D.C.Under orders from Jefferson, Secretary of State

James Madison never delivered the official papers assigning Marbury to duty

Marbury sued Madison, demanding that the Supreme Court let him take office

Although the Supreme Court, which had a Federalist majority, denied Marbury, also a Federalist, his commission (appointment to

become a judge), the Court established a far more important principle.

•THE SUPREME COURT INTERPRETS WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS AND

CAN DECLARE A LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL WHICH IS CALLED JUDICIAL REVIEW.

•THE CONSTITUTION IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND AND THE NATIONAL

GOVERNMENT IS OVER THE STATES.

JUDICIAL REVIEW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwVz

El0Rqas

JEFFERSON’S PROGRAM IN THE WEST As a strict constructionist, Jefferson

opposed strong central government However, the westward expansion of

America would cause Jefferson to use federal powers

•Great Britain after the Revolution.•United States after War•Spanish land after Revolution

Spanish Land 1800

New Orleans

•Great Britain after the Revolution.•United States after War•Spanish land

French Land in 1801

New Orleans

LOUISIANA PURCHASE (1803) New Orleans was needed so the west

could have access to world markets French ruler Napoleon had gained Spanish

territory in the U.S.

Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris to purchase New Orleans for $10 million Napoleon and Monroe discussed a plan to

sell the whole Louisiana Territory for $15 million

Jefferson faced a constitutional dilemma

• EFFECTS• Doubled the size of the

US• Eliminate foreign threat

on American western border

•Ensure American access to interior rivers

• Give American farmers enough land to support

the republic• Jefferson’s greatest

accomplishment• Why? Didn’t fight a war, no blood shed.

EXPANSION OF THE UNITED STATESWITH LOUISIANA PURCHASE 1803

THE ELECTION OF 1804 His policies made Jefferson an extremely

popular president in his first termLowered taxesAcquired new territoryEliminated France from AmericaBegan to wipe out a national debtAllowed Alien and Sedition Acts to expire

Jefferson easily wins re-election in 1804

Alexander Hamilton saw Burr as unprincipled and was determined to

see Burr fail Hamilton was successful as Burr

lost the election Burr believed Hamilton had gone

to far and wrote him a letter in 1804 challenging him to a dual

On July 11, 1804 Burr mortally wounded Hamilton in a dual

Hamilton’s death in 1804 deprived the Federalists of their last great leader and earned

Burr the enmity of many

In 1806, Burr planned to take Mexico from Spain

and possibly unite it with Louisiana under his ruleJefferson learned of the conspiracy and ordered Burr’s arrest and trial for

treason

A jury acquitted Burr, basing its decision on Marshall’s narrow definition of treason and the

lack of witnesses to any “overt act” by Burr

CODE DUELLO In 1777, a committee of Irishmen drew up the

dueling code that would come to be used widely throughout Europe and America. The 1777 Irish code was called the Code Duello, and

you can read the complete set of rules at www.pbs.org. This code was so popular that people worldwide came to see it as the "official" rules of dueling.

In fact, the U.S. Navy included the text of the Code Duello in the midshipman's handbook up until dueling by naval officers was finally banned in 1862 (Holland, pg. 142).

Highlights of the rules include the steps of an apology, might call off the duel; proper dueling etiquette in terms of dignified behavior; the role of seconds; and what constitutes the end of a duel.

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND THE WAR OF 1812

FOREIGN RELATIONS In spring 1803 Napoleon declares war on Britain

This 11 year war dominated American politics American neutrality would again be tested American attempted to trade with both countries at

the beginning of the war and is successful

In 1805 under the Essex Decision Britain decided it could seize American ships engaged in trade with France

In response in 1806 Congress passes the Non-Importation Act Forbids importation of British goods into U.S.

THE CHESAPEAKE Britain continued its policy of impressment

Hundreds of American ships were searched Britain was certain many Navy deserters were hiding in

America An estimated 6,000 Americans were impressed into the

British Navy between 1803 - 1812

Jefferson and U.S. citizens became outraged by these acts

In June 1807, Britain attacked the USS Chesapeake This set off huge anti-British movement Jefferson responded by barring British ships from American

ports

• Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….• Short of war,

Jefferson attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

• It last 15 months and is repealed in

March 1809

EMBARGO ACT EFFECTS The embargo ruined Jefferson’s second

term and his popularityMany Americans despised the government’s

interference in the economyFederalists gain significant ground in

winning seats to Congress Despite these issues, another

Jeffersonian Republican took office in 1808 – James Madison