John Adamss Presidency

1
John Adamss Presidency

• Political Parties
• Foreign Policy Problems
• Election of 1800

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Election of 1796

• John Adams was Washingtons V.P.
• First time there were multiple candidates
• Two political parties stood out

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Political Parties

• Federalist Party same ideals as we have
  discussed popular in N.E.
• Candidates John Adams, Thomas Pinckney (not
  Hamilton)

4
Political Parties

• Democratic - Republican Party Republicans for
  short
• Not the same as todays party
• Similar to Antifederalists, popular in South
• Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr candidates.

5
Election of 1796

• Much mud slinging
• Abigail Adams (mom) told son she did not like the
  style
• Hamilton tried to get Pinckney elected

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Election of 1796

• Adams won 71 to 68.
• Rules said 2nd place was vice president
• Irony! Adams was president, Jefferson was vice
  president

7
Adams as a Person

• Very shy and reserved
• Appeared cold, distant
• Admired for his intelligence, work ethic
• Big Mistake! Left cabinet in office!

8
XYZ Affair

• Repair damage to France from Jays Treaty and
  Citizen Genet
• Who were the people involved?
• Who were XYZ?

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XYZ Affair

• Pinckney, Marshall, Gerry sent by Adams
• Talleyrand - French foreign minister
• XYZ - 3 agents sent by French to bribe our people

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XYZ Bribe

• Talleyrand would only see them if they paid
  250,000 and loaned the French government 12 m.
• Americans said NO WAY!
• Some called for war.

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Adams Holds his Ground

• He kept his head and continued to try to gain
  peace with France
• Many were shocked, outraged, etc
• Hamilton was conniving (not one of his more
  likeable moments)

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Adams Holds his Ground

• Gains peace in 1800
• Ended undeclared war in seas
• Fired two cabinet members for conniving with
  Hamilton

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Adams Gets Grief

• Some Federalists did not like him
• But the Republicans were really critical and loud
  about it.
• Hence the Alien Act and the Sedition Act.

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Alien and Sedition Acts

• Alien President could expel any foreign citizens
  if they were suspected of plotting against the
  government.
• Sedition Citizens could not participate in any
  plots. Also made it illegal to write, print,
  utter, publish words against the government.

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Alien and Sedition Acts

• Whatever happened to free speech?
• Some editors were arrested.
• Some French left Republicans got quiet

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Republicans Strike Back

• Jefferson Madison authored the Virginia(M) and
  Kentucky(J) Resolutions
• Said Alien Sedition were unconstitutional
• Argued states rights

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Virginia Kentucky Resolutions

• Proclaimed states could ignore federal laws they
  thought were unconstitutional
• Asked for the repeal of the A. S. Acts
  (Congress denied)
• Supported right of state to challenge federal

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Election of 1800

• Adams / Pinckney vs Jefferson / Burr
• Why was Adams criticized?
• Why was Jefferson criticized?
• Jefferson actively campaigned not Adams
• Hamilton attacked Adams dividing party

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Transition

• Republicans won, but Jefferson and Burr tied.
• Remember how the v.p. was chosen?
• Vote went to House of Reps to break tie.
• Deadlocked 35 times!

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Our Friend Hamilton

• Some Federalists gave up
• Hamilton voted for Jefferson (surprised?)
• Congress said no more of that!

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12th Amendment

• Suggested and ratified in time for next election
• Separate ballot for president and vice president

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Election Outcomes

• Weakened Federalist Party
• Strengthened Republican Party
• Adams Jefferson cut off communication, but
  later reconciled
• Peaceful transition showed strength in system
  common man.

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Remember

• Election of 1796
• Political parties
• XYZ Affair

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Remember

• Alien Sedition Acts
• Virginia Kentucky Resolutions
• Election of 1800
• Twelfth Amendment