THE FIRST POLITICAL PARTIES AND JOHN ADAMS PRESIDENCY

Partner Talk  What did Washington warn against in his Farewell Address?

POLITICAL PARTIES  by 1796 Americans were beginning to divide into opposing groups  2 Political Parties: Democratic – Republicans & Federalists  Hamilton and Jefferson (both in Washington’s cabinet, disagreed on economic policy, foreign relations, power of the federal government, & interpreting the Constitution

FEDERALISTS  leader = Alexander Hamilton  stood for a strong federal government  national bank, protective tariffs, British alliance  loose interpretation of the Constitution  rule by the wealthy class

DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS  Leader = Thomas Jefferson  rule by the people (ordinary people)  strong state governments  strict interpretation of the Constitution  French alliance, state banks, free Trade

Partner Talk Despite George Washington warning against the formation of political parties, why AND how did the first political parties emerge?

ELECTION OF 1796  John Adams = President (Federalists)  Thomas Jefferson = Vice President (Republican)

XYZ AFFAIR  The French regarded Jay’s Treaty as an American attempt to support Britain in the war so the French seized U.S. cargo ships  Adams wanted to avoid war so he sent delegates to resolve the dispute  Charles de Talleyrand – French foreign minister refused to meet with the Americans & sent 3 agents who demanded a bribe & loan for France

XYZ video clip  EQW6s EQW6s EQW6s

UNDECLARED WAR  between 1798 – 1800 U.S. & French naval forces clashed (war wasn’t formally declared) & in 1800 a peace agreement was negotiated

ALIEN & SEDITION ACT  Suspicions arose against aliens (people thought they would not be loyal to the U.S.)  Alien Act – allowed president to imprison aliens or send them out of the country  Sedition Act – made it a crime to speak, write, or publish criticisms of the government (UNCONSTITUTIONAL)

VIRGINIA & KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS  affirmed the principle of states’ rights –limiting the federal government to those powers clearly assigned to it by the Constitution

NULLIFICATION  Jefferson and Madison secretly wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions.  The Resolutions said States could nullify, meaning legally overturn, unconstitutional federal laws  The States’ Rights argument was used often during early U.S. history

John Adams The following slides are not in your notes

Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions  Affirmed principal of States Rights  Federal Governments' power is outlined by the constitution only

FALL OF THE FEDERALISTS  Election of 1800 was approaching  Criticized for the over-broad laws Federalists wanted Adams to step up war with France  Adams refused to rush  Negotiated treaty with France to stop attacks on American ships

FALL OF THE FEDERALISTS  Adams did right for America  It likely cost him the election  Jefferson wins Presidency in 1800  Jefferson pardoned those convicted under the Sedition Act  Congress restored all fines paid with interest.

JOHN ADAMS… AVOIDED WAR, BUT COST HIM THE 1800 ELECTION…