The Presidency of John The Presidency of John AdamsAdams

A Rough Start…A Rough Start…• He doesn’t have the He doesn’t have the

prestige of George prestige of George Washington.Washington.

• He has to deal with He has to deal with powerful political powerful political parties.parties.

• He is threatened with He is threatened with war from abroad.war from abroad.

Unhappy FrenchUnhappy French

• American merchant American merchant ships being seized by ships being seized by French warships.French warships.– French not happy with

Jay’s treaty.

• Adams sends Adams sends delegates to Paris to delegates to Paris to negotiate with the negotiate with the French.French.

The XYZ AffairThe XYZ Affair• The American delegates are The American delegates are

met by French ministers met by French ministers (X,Y, & Z).(X,Y, & Z).

• They bribe the U.S. They bribe the U.S. delegates before entering delegates before entering negotiations.negotiations.– $1,000,000

• This was a European This was a European custom. custom.

X,Y,Z…Examine your

zipper.

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

Bag full of Bribes

Fallout from the XYZ Fallout from the XYZ AffairAffair

• Many Americans calling Many Americans calling for war with Francefor war with France– “Millions for defense, but not

one cent for tribute!”

• Adams knows that the Adams knows that the U.S. military is not U.S. military is not strong enough to fight strong enough to fight a major power.a major power.– Undeclared war!

Federalists take ControlFederalists take Control• The Federalist take The Federalist take

control of both control of both Houses in 1798.Houses in 1798.

• They:They:– Increase the size of

the military.– Increase taxes– Create two new laws:

– Alien and Sedition Acts

Alien & Sedition ActsAlien & Sedition Acts• Alien Act –Alien Act –

– Authorized the president to imprison and deport any aliens considered to be dangerous.

• Sedition Act –Sedition Act –– Persons who wrote or

said anything false, scandalous, or malicious in nature could be arrested.

Representative Matthew Lyon of Vermont, was arrested under the Sedition Act, for attacking a fellow

congressman.

One Problem…One Problem…• The Federalists used The Federalists used

the Sedition Act to the Sedition Act to silence Jeffersonian-silence Jeffersonian-Republicans. Republicans.

• Republicans say that Republicans say that the Act violates the the Act violates the First Amendment.First Amendment.– Freedom of Speech

Responses to Alien and Responses to Alien and Sedition ActsSedition Acts

• Kentucky and Kentucky and Virginia ResolutionsVirginia Resolutions– Written, respectively, by

Jefferson and Madison

• Argument:Argument: Since Since states had accepted states had accepted the Constitution, they the Constitution, they can can nullifynullify a federal a federal law that breaks the law that breaks the agreement.agreement.– Reject

Thomas Jefferson believed that this was a crucial time for America. He

wondered if Americans would capture the Spirit of 1776, or would

they choose the Spirit of 1787?

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 1800.the election of 1800.– Republicans allow the Alien and Sedition Acts to

expire or repeal parts of them.

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

The Election of 1800The Election of 1800

A Dirty Little CampaignA Dirty Little Campaign

• The campaign for The campaign for President in 1800 was President in 1800 was vicious.vicious.

• Republicans and Republicans and Federalists in Federalists in Congress taunted Congress taunted each other and the each other and the candidates attacked candidates attacked each other personally. each other personally. Federalists charged Jefferson

with trying to destroy the new government under the

Constitution.

This is a modern day example of a political advertisement that would have been used in the Election of 1800.

How the Votes Turned How the Votes Turned OutOut

• Jefferson won the Jefferson won the popular vote but popular vote but tied in the electoral tied in the electoral votes.votes.

• Another Another Republican, Aaron Republican, Aaron Burr, tied with him.Burr, tied with him.

So Who Won?So Who Won?• Under the Under the

Constitution, the Constitution, the House of House of Representatives Representatives decides ties in the decides ties in the Electoral College.Electoral College.

• Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was chosen as third was chosen as third President and Aaron President and Aaron Burr the Vice Burr the Vice President.President.

Thomas Jefferson

Aaron Burr

Why Jefferson Beat Why Jefferson Beat AdamsAdams

• Many Americans Many Americans wanted a shift from wanted a shift from a strong to a weak a strong to a weak central government.central government.

• Even though he was Even though he was wealthy, owned wealthy, owned slaves and lived on slaves and lived on a large plantation, a large plantation, he was a man of the he was a man of the people.people.

Monticello

Judging John AdamsJudging John Adams

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

• Strengthens the Navy.Strengthens the Navy.

• Peaceful transfer of Peaceful transfer of power in 1800.power in 1800.

• Relationship with Relationship with France damaged.France damaged.

• New taxes imposed.New taxes imposed.

• Party politics Party politics became entrenchedbecame entrenched

The Federalists Congresses creation of the Alien The Federalists Congresses creation of the Alien and Sedition Acts cost Adams his reelection. and Sedition Acts cost Adams his reelection.

NegativesNegatives PositivesPositives

A Peaceful Transfer of A Peaceful Transfer of PowerPower

• The election of 1800 The election of 1800 showed the world showed the world that American that American democracy works.democracy works.

• Federalists gave up Federalists gave up power peacefully to power peacefully to Republicans and set Republicans and set a precedent that a precedent that every election has every election has followed except in followed except in 1860.1860.

History is Full of IronyHistory is Full of Irony

• Although they were bitter enemies and were complete opposites, these two men both loved America.

• They both died on July 4th, 1826. – The 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson said it best.Jefferson said it best.• ““We are all republicans, we are all We are all republicans, we are all

federalists”.federalists”.

• What do you think Jefferson meant What do you think Jefferson meant by this?by this?

• No matter what we believe, we are No matter what we believe, we are all still Americans who will uphold the all still Americans who will uphold the government despite our differences.government despite our differences.