American Politics in the 1790’s
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Transcript of American Politics in the 1790’s
American Politics in the 1790’s
FederalistsVersus
Democratic-Republicans
Growth of Political Parties
Who were the leaders? What were the issues?
THE ELECTION OF 1796 Vice President John Adams (left) against former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (right), former friends now turned bitter political enemies.
Total Number of Electors 138
Total Electoral Votes Cast 276
Number of Votes for a Majority 70
1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)
Candidate State Party Electoral Votes
Percent
John Adams Massachusetts
Federalist 71 51.4%
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia Democratic-Republican
68 49.3%
Thomas Pinckney
South Carolina
Federalist 59 42.8%
Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican
30 21.7%
Samuel Adams
Massachusetts
Federalist 15 10.9%
Oliver Ellsworth
Connecticut Federalist 11 8.0%
George Clinton
New York Democratic-Republican
7 5.1%
Other - - 15 10.9%
1796 Election Results
JOHN ADAMSstubborn,
insecure, but high-minded
Protect American interests but pro-British
How do you follow George Washington?
JOHN ADAMSPresidential Issues
◦ XYZ Affair◦ Quasi-War against
France◦ Alien and Sedition
Acts◦ Kentucky and
Virginia Resolutions◦ What do you do
when your Vice-President is working against you?
War between France and England
Adams supported British (Federalist stance)
Jefferson supported French (Democratic-Republican stance)
XYZ AffairAmerican diplomats
in Paris to negotiate◦ John Marshall◦ Elbridge Gerry◦ Charles Cotesworth
Pinckney3 unnamed French
agents (X, Y, and Z) solicited bribes from Americans
Had to pay to see French diplomats
XYZ Affair
XYZ AffairA British cartoon shows the United States (the young lady in the feathered Indian headdress) being accosted by impertinent and avaricious diplomats representing Revolutionary France.
Results of the XYZ AffairCongress (controlled by Federalists)◦Cut off trade w/France◦Used privateers to attack French ships
◦Unofficial allies with British◦Waged undeclared war with French
◦Need to strengthen defense
Beginnings of the U.S. NavyNavy Act of 1794
◦ 6 frigates built (Mediterranean)Navy (part of Department of War)
◦ Large 44-gun frigates planned. More heavily armed and faster
Marines deployed on ships◦ Tradition of British
Protect Captain and officers from crew Provide musket fire
Quasi-War on The High Seas
Operations of the Quasi-WarMain theater: West Indies
◦ U.S. vs. French◦ U.S. uses British ports◦ Most of French fleet blockaded in
EuropeU.S. naval funding increased in
1799◦ Shipbuilding increases size of Navy
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Used by Adams/Federalists to retaliate against Jefferson/Republicans
Satiric portrayal: first fight in Congress: Matthew Lyon and Roger Griswold
Lyon later prosecuted under Sedition Act
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Acts June, 1798 ◦ Naturalization Act = longer residence for
citizenship◦ 5 years to 14◦ president has power to expel/incarcerate
foreigners (anti-French)Sedition Act July, 1798
◦ crime to publish criticisms of government (anti-Dem.-Rep.)
◦ Allowed arrest and/or imprisonment of anti-Federalist publishers
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Constitutional or Unconstitutional?Could Dem.-Reps. Challenge in the
courts?◦ No concept of judicial review yet◦ Most federal judges were Federalist
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798
Jefferson and Madison: Sedition Act violates 1st Amendment
States can nullify federal law if unconstitutional
Jumpstarts Jefferson’s bid for president
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798
Kentucky◦ “unauthoritative,
void, and of no force”
Virginia◦ States have right
to refuse to enforce unconstitutional federal laws
THE ELECTION OF 1800John Adams (left) and Thomas Jefferson (right) squared off for the presidency for a second time in 1800. It was the first and only instance in American history when a sitting President and Vice President ran against each other.
Election of 1800
John Adams Thomas JeffersonFederalist partyEnded quasi-warJefferson: a pro-
French radical
Democratic-Republican (Republican) party
Critical of Adams for◦ Alien and Sedition
Acts◦ Increased taxes for
undeclared war
Candidates did not campaign!
BRANDING JEFFERSON AS A DANGEROUS RADICALA Federalist cartoon depicts Thomas Jefferson was an enemy of religion, lawful government, and the Constitution, who wanted to import a French-style revolution and reign of terror to America.
FEDERALIST ATTACKS GET PERSONALThis anti-Jefferson cartoon highlights the rumors that the Virginia politician kept a black mistress (Sally Hemmings, his slave and also his wife’s half-sister)
THE CAPITAL MOVES SOUTHJohn and Abigail Adams become the first occupants of the “executive mansion” in 1800
Total Number of Electors 138
Total Electoral Votes Cast 276
Number of Votes for a Majority 70
1800 Election Results (16 states in the Union)
Candidate State Party Electoral Votes
Percent
Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-
Republican 73 52.9%
Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican 73 52.9%
John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 65 47.1%
Charles Pinckney
South Carolina Federalist 64 46.4%
John Jay New York Federalist 1 0.7%
1800 Election Results Tie – Thomas Jefferson and Aaron
Burr . . .◦House of Representatives decides◦Each state gets one vote◦candidate with majority became
president◦House voted 35 times without a winner◦Alexander Hamilton convinces states to
support Jefferson
1800 Final Election Results After 36 Ballots
(In the House of Representatives!!) 1 vote for each State
Candidate
State Party Votes Percent
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia
Democratic-Republican
10 62.5%
Aaron Burr
New York
Democratic-Republican
4 25.0%
Blank ------- 2 12.5%
Thomas Jefferson becomes President
Aaron Burr becomes Vice-President
1800 Election Results Why would Hamilton (who hates Jefferson)
support him?Democratic-Republicans take control of
both House and Senate1796
◦Federalists have both houses and the presidency1800
◦Republicans have both houses and the presidency
Adams doesn’t stay for Jefferson’s inauguration
1800 Election Results
The “Revolution” of 1800?
New Republic ◦ Weathered international storms
French Revolution Napoleonic Wars
◦new spirit of nationalism◦ Party system
legitimate dissent (“the loyal opposition”) Established pattern for diffusing/limiting
political unrestPrecedent of peaceful transfer of
power from one party to anotherDid we pass the first, big
Constitutional test?
The Twelfth Amendment
Electors cast one vote instead of two
President/vice-president on same ticket
President/vice-president cannot be from same state