1. The Presidency of John Adams 1797 – 1801

2. Presidential election of 1796
Washington retired after two terms.
Thomas Jefferson was the Democratic-Republican candidate.
John Adams was the Federalist candidate.
Thomas Jefferson came in second with 68 votes to Adams’s 71 votes.
Jefferson became vice president.

3. How do you replace a legend?

4. John Adams- 2nd President
Though Adams became president, he did not have the full support of the presidential electors.
Because of sectionalism, the southern Federalists preferred his running mate, Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina.

5. Adams’ Challenges Foreign Relations (Naval Battle, Growing Political
Jay’s
Treaty)
Growing
Political
Parties
Sectionalism
War with
France and
England

6. “XYZ Affair” France captures United States ships
IF YOU WERE ADAMS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Adams sends a team to negotiate with the French
Three French Ambassadors (X,Y,Z) ask for $250,000 as a bribe
Ask for $10 Million Loan

7. Result of the XYZ Affair
Congress cut off trade with France
Canceled wartime treaties it had made with France
Authorized building warships
Allowed the U.S. navy to capture French vessels at sea
The XYZ Affair brought a general resentment of foreigners, which led to passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

8. Alien Acts
3 laws that allowed the president to order foreigners considered to be a threat to national security to be jailed or deported.
Targeted French and Irish refugees, most of whom supported the French
Increased the period of residency required for citizenship from 5 years to 14
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” of the country

9. Sedition Act
The Sedition Act outlawed any opposition to government policies by actions or by “false, scandalous, or malicious writing.”
Targeted the Democratic-Republicans, who historically supported the French
Nine Democratic-Republican newspaper editors and a member of Congress were convicted under the Sedition Act.

10. Alien and Sedition Act Sedation Act:
Illegal for any person to write print or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress or the President

11. Are these fair?
The President of United States comes to Montville to deliver a speech about the Economy. Everyone is cheering, you wait until the cheer ends and then says “You are TERRIBLE”
Luther Baldwin (was drunk) – Arrested in Newark for saying “I don’t care if (the canons) fire through the President’s arse”
Two months in jail and a fine
Federalist are taking away liberty
10 editors and printers convicted

13. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Jefferson and Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, where they argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional.
They hoped states would nullify the laws.
Only Virginia and Kentucky passed the resolutions.
In the end, there was a deeper and more bitter political divide in Congress and the country.

14. Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
WHO CAN JUDGE IF A GOVERNMENT IS ABUSING ITS POWERS?
The States!!!
Nullification – States can declare acts of Congress against the Constitution and “null and void”

15. Evaluate John Adams using the 5 presidential qualities
Vision
Pragmatism
Consensus
Charisma
Trust