1. President John Adams

2. John Adams 1797-1801 Federalist Massachusetts Was a Founding Father
Washington’s VP
1st President to live in White House
Died on 50th Anniversary of Dec. of Ind.

3. Election of 1796 John Adams is elected as the 2nd President
Adams was a Federalist
Jefferson is the runner up and serves as VP
Jefferson is a “Republican”

4. XYZ Affair (1798) French are angry with America
Angry at Jay’s Treaty the French are harassing our shipping
Adams sends diplomats to meet with the French and push for peace
Americans are met by secret French officials named “X’, “Y”, and “Z”
They demand a $250,000 bribe and a $10 million dollar loan to speak with officials
Americans refuse, return home and are called heroes
Named the XYZ Affair

5. Quasi War with France (1798-1800)
French Rev. overthrows gov’t
U.S. refuses to pay war debt, claims debt was to previous regime
French begin to seize and harass U.S. ships
Many Americans want full scale war with France (still angry over XYZ Affair)
Adams wants to continue Washington’s neutrality and does not feel U.S. can defeat France
Adams refuses to ask for a declaration of war
U.S. and France engage in small naval battles
Approx. 50 deaths on each side

6. John Adams: Domestic Affairs
Alien Act (1798)
Now takes 14 years (not 5) to become a citizen
Dangerous aliens can be deported or detained at president’s discretion
Sedition Act (1798)
Illegal and punishable by jail time to criticize President or Congress in the Press
Reasoning
Many immigrants supported the D-R
Afraid of French ideals spreading
Many newspapers criticized Federalist
Impact / Importance
Limit on 1st Amendment
Jefferson does not enforce laws when Pres

7. The New Alien and Sedition Acts
Travel Ban
Executive order 13769
Admit only 50k
Suspend refugee immigration for 120 Days
No more Syrian Refugees
Suspend immigration from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen for 90 days
Fake News
“So much Fake News being put in dying magazines and newspapers. Only place @ABC Fiction writers!” – 10/17/17
“Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!” – 10/11/17

8. Democratic-Republican Response to Alien and Sedition Acts
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798/99)
Passed by the two state legislatures
Written by Jefferson (he was the VP!!!!) and Madison
Argued states had the right to declare laws unconstitutional and to “nullify” them
No real basis for this ideal
South would hold onto this idea and bring it up again with tariffs and slavery

9. The End of the Federalist
Ultimately the Federalist did get America off on strong economic and sound planning
Adams failure to handle European affairs and to stop the seizing and impressment of soldiers will cost the Federalist Power