Ch. 6-2 CHALLENGES OF THE 1790s AMERICAN HISTORY

REMAINING NEUTRAL Overthrow of the French Monarchy Austria and Hungary declare war on France Great Britain and Spain join in Americans celebrate the overthrow A DECLARATION OF NEUTRALITY French government called on old allies to help President Washington wanted to remain strictly neutral

Neutrality Proclamation (April 1793) Committed the USA to “pursue conduct friendly and impartial towards the belligerent powers.” GENET DEFIES NEUTRALITY Republican newspapers harshly attacked the president French Ambassador Edmund Genet tried to convince ordinary citizens to support the French

Washington & Jefferson though Genet had gone too far. Genet was sent home MORE DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES Jefferson wanted to resign as Secretary of State Early 1794-British seize U.S. merchant ships claiming they carried French goods American sailors sent to prison

Jay’s Treaty (1794) 1) British agree to pay for damages to US ships 2) British agree to leave forts on US soil 3) Americans agree to pay debt owed to Britian Pinckney’s Treaty (1795) Spain settled many border and trade disputes with USA

CONFLICTS IN THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) Treaty of Greenville (1795) PRESIDENT ADAMS AND THE XYZ AFFAIR Washington reluctantly agrees to a second term He was older and his health was starting to fail Washington wasn’t universally liked anymore Mainly because of neutrality

ELECTION OF 1796 Intense political rivalry between parties Jefferson (Dem.-Reps.) vs. John Adams (Feds.) Federalists easily won a majority of electors SECTIONALISM—loyalty to one’s region Adams favored in the North while his running mate Thomas Pinckney was favored in the South Election Result: Adams 71, Jefferson 68 Adams was president and his political rival Jefferson was vice president

MORE PROBLEMS WITH FRANCE French ships began seizing US merchant vessels Adams sent Charles Pinckney as a diplomatic representative to France but he was turned away (a serious insult) XYZ AFFAIR—Adams sent a report to Congress describing the incident of the 3 minor French diplomats demanding bribes and loans. Many Americans want war “Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute”

Congress cuts off trade with France Pre-revolutionary treaties were canceled US Navy could capture French ships at sea US policy forces the new French leader, General Napoleon Bonaparte to sign treaties on trade. Adams and Congress had avoided a costly war with France CENSORING FREE SPEECH Congress passed laws protecting the country from foreign enemies

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS Alien Acts Aimed mainly at French and Irish refugees Increased the period of residency required for citizenship from 5 to 14 years Required foreigners to register with the government Allowed the president to jail or expel any foreigner thought to be “dangerous to the peace and safety” Sedition Act Outlawed any opposition to government policies by actions or by “false, scandalous, or malicious writing.” In effect it prohibited criticism of government officials A clear contradiction to the First Amendment

Adams used the Alien and Sedition Acts cautiously Jefferson and Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions Argument was the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional Many supporters of states’ rights believed that nullification of federal laws by states was legal. Only Virginia and Kentucky passed the resolutions The end result was a deeper and more bitter political divide in the Congress and country. The End