WASHINGTON TO ADAMS

CHAPTER 9: BIG IDEAS

•Precedents and legacy of Washington’s presidency

• Challenges to the Early Republic – What challenges did they face and how did they overcome them?

FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Factions – opposing groups within parties• Created in Washington’s Cabinet – WHY?• Hamilton vs. Jefferson• Different political views

VS.

Hamilton Jefferson

DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWSFederalists

• Encourage manufacturing & trade – support the growth of cities• Strong federal

government• Looser interpretation

of Constitution• Wanted closer ties

with Britain

Democratic Republicans• Support farmers –

“cultivators of the Earth”• Weaker federal

government – preserve state powers• Strict interpretation of

Constitution• Favored alliance with

France

Econ

omy

Inte

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Co

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Fede

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v. S

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Po

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ELECTION OF 1796

• 1st election after Washington• Adams

(Fed)barely wins the election• Jefferson

elected VP (Dem-Rep)

JOHN ADAMS’ PRESIDENCY

• From Massachusetts• Federalist• 1797-1801• Very different from

Washington• Short, pudgy• Outspoken – stood up for his

beliefs• Honest and able leader

CONFLICT WITH FRANCE

• French objected to Jay’s Treaty – began to seize American ships• Americans called for war!

• Adams sent diplomats to France• XYZ Affair – French minister Talleyrand sent three

agents to offer the Americans a deal – would not negotiate unless Talleyrand was paid $250,000 and France was given a $10 million loan• Americans refused to pay a cent!• WAR FEVER – Adams resisted• How did he avoid war?

• Strengthened the American navy (built frigates to defend American ships)

IMPACT OF THE XYZ AFFAIR

• Many wanted to go to war with France – Hamilton• Adams resisted war and lost support of many

Federalists• Federalist party split – weakened for the Election

of 1800

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS

• Passed in 1798 by the Federalists• During the crisis with France• Alien Act – the President could expel an alien

or foreigner thought to be dangerous to the country• Made it more difficult for immigrants to become citizens• Sedition Act – citizens could be fined or jailed

for criticizing the government or its officials• Are these laws constitutional?• What about the 1st Amendment?• Strongly opposed by the Republicans and Jefferson

KENTUCKY AND VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS

• 1798 and 1799 passed in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts• Helped by Jefferson and Madison

• What did they say?• Claimed each state “has an equal right to judge for itself”

whether a law is constitutional• If a state decides a law is unconstitutional it has the

power to nullify the law within the state• Raises a BIG issue• States rights!• Is this a power that the states have?

ELECTION OF 1800

• Results• Tie Jefferson (73 electoral votes) – Burr (73 electoral

votes)• House of Representatives decided the

outcome – Jefferson wins!• Strong influence from Hamilton – anti-Burr

• 12th Amendment – requires electors to vote separately for President and Vice President

• End of the Federalist Era• Alexander Hamilton is killed by Aaron Burr in a duel

(1804)

CH. 9 QUEST• Big Ideas – Can you list evidence?• Precedents and legacy of Washington’s

presidency• Challenges to the Early Republic – What

challenges did they face and how did they overcome them?

• People• George Washington• Alexander Hamilton• Thomas Jefferson• John Adams

• Study terms and notes/worksheets