John Adams

Conflict With France After John Adams is elected president, he faces a crisis with France. In 1797 French ships began to seize American ships in the West Indies. Americans called for a war with France, but Adams refused to call for war. Instead, he sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations. But, Charles Marcia de Talleyrand of France doesn’t agree to discuss any deal right away. First he wants $250,000 for himself and a $10,000,000 loan to France. Adams strengthens navy by building frigates.

Timeline During John Adam’s PresidencyTimeline During John Adam’s Presidency

The Federalist Party Splits Federalists criticizing Adams having high hopes that this would begin Republican’s report for France They hoped that war would make the nation build up military forces. Although Adams was a federalist he resisted Hamilton’s pressure for war. Adams liked to keep the nation our of war like Washington.

Vocab XYZ Affair - a 1797 French attempt to bribe the US. by demanding payment before talks could begin on the issue of French seizure of neutral American ships Frigate- a fast sailing ships with many guns Alien and Sedition Acts –in 1798 Federalist-supported laws that permitted the president to expel foreigners, made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, and allowed for citizens to be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials Sedition – stirring up rebellion against a government Nullify – to cancel Kentucky and Virginia resolutions - declaration passed in 1798 and 1799 that claimed that each state has the right to decide whether a federal law is constitutional within a state borders States rights – the right of states to limit the federal government

READING FOCUS How did John Adams handle the conflict with France? Why did the Federalist parties split? How did Alien and Sedition acts raise the issue of the rights of the states ? What role did Congress play in the election of 1800?

Answers to Reading Focus John Adams handled the conflict with France by refusing to go to war but strengthen his navy by building frigates. The federal parties split because of their different views on politics, war, and, how the country should be ran. Alien and Sedition acts raised the issue of the rights of the states because republicans argued that they felt this law was unconstitutional. Also because VP Jefferson opposed these acts and couldn’t go to the court for help because federalists controlled them. So Jefferson went straight to try to convince the states to take a strong action against the acts. The role that Congress played in the election of 1800 was the finally decision of the President and Vice-President.