1. The Election of 1796

2. Review Loose Interpretation of the Constitution
Strict Interpretation of the Constitution
Separate Political Parties
Precedents set by Washington
Isolationism and sectionalism
Added “So help me God” to the presidential oath of office
Establishes a cabinet
Only serve two terms
Avoid political parties and sectionalism

3. Election of 1796 1st openly contested election Federalist = John Adams
Democratic-Republicans = Thomas Jefferson
Adams won the election 71 to 68 (electoral votes)
Adams faced trouble as soon as he took office regarding the Quasi-War with France

4. Quasi-War with France
The Quasi-War was an undeclared war at sea between the United States and France
The French were mad about the conditions of Jay’s Treaty between America and Great Britain
French ships began seizing goods on American ships headed to Britain
Three representatives went to Paris to discuss improving relations with France, this would come to be known as the XYZ Affair

5. The XYZ Affair
Before the French would talk with the representatives they demanded a bribe of $250,000 and asked for a loan of $12 million dollars, Pinckney’s response was no!
The Quasi-War came to an end with the signing of the Convention of 1800

6. War Between the Parties
The Federalists in Congress wanted to retaliate against the Republicans
B/c of Republicans harsh criticism of Jay’s Treaty and b/f the end of the Quasi-War
The Federalist party retaliated with the Alien and Sedition Acts- laws designed to prevent foreigners from voting!

7. The Alien and Sedition Acts
The first three laws confronted aliens
1st law required immigrants to wait 14 years before becoming citizens
To weaken the Republican support
The 2nd and 3rd laws gave the president the power to deport any alien deemed dangerous to the United States without trial

8. The Alien and Sedition Acts
The 4th law was set to prevent sedition
Made it a federal crime to say or print anything “false, scandalous, and malicious” against the federal govt. or any govt. official
Depriving citizens of their right to criticize the govt.

9. Republicans Hit Back
Republican-controlled legislatures of Kentucky and Virginia passed resolutions
Secretly written by Madison and Jefferson
Criticized the Alien and Sedition Acts
Both resolutions argued that since states had created the Constitution they could declare federal laws unconstitutional

10. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
The Virginia Resolutions introduced the idea of interposition (step in)
States can interpose and stop any unconstitutional action by the federal gov’t
The Kentucky Resolutions advanced the theory of nullification (cancel out/reverse)
States have the right to nullify any law given by the federal govt. if that law was unconstitutional