1. John Adams v. Thomas Jefferson (Federalist) (Democratic-Republican)
Election of 1796
John Adams v. Thomas Jefferson
(Federalist) (Democratic-Republican)

2. The Election of 1796 John Adams Federalist
Thomas Pinckney - VP
Federalist
Vice President for Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr -VP
Democratic-Republican
Secretary of State

3. The Results Adams won the Presidency by 3 Electoral votes (71 to 68)
Jefferson became the Vice President because he finished 2nd in the Electoral voting

4. The Importance
Peaceful transfer of political power from one person to another
Electoral College process did not anticipate the formation of political parties
President and Vice President were of differing political parties
(In Amendment #12 would correct this by requiring electors to cast separate ballots for President and Vice President)

5. Adams’ Presidency Major Event – the XYZ Affair
Undeclared naval war between US & France
Adams sent US delegation to France to negotiate a settlement
French ministers known as “X”, “Y” & “Z” demanded Americans pay them bribe money for the privilege of negotiating
US refused – “Millions for defense, not one cent in tribute”

6. Alien and Sedition Acts
Series of 4 laws
To protect US against French infiltration
To allow Federalists to limit the role of the Democratic-Republicans

7. Naturalization Act
Increased the time for becoming a citizen from 5 to 14 years

8. Alien Act
Authorized President to deport Aliens considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States”

9. Alien Enemies Act
Allowed the President during wartime to arrest, imprison or deport all aliens from an enemy nation

10. Sedition Act
Allowed that a person could be fined and jailed if found guilty of sedition, or “combining and conspiring to oppose the execution of the laws, or publishing false, scandalous, or malicious writings against the President, Congress, or the government of the United States.”

11. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
Written by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
Declared that the states had entered into a “compact” with the national government and if any act of the national government broke the compact, the state could nullify the federal law
1st expression of States’ Rights – Theory of Nullification that would eventually lead to Civil War

12. Controversy faded
Federalist lost majority in Congress in 1800; Democratic-Republicans allowed Alien and Sedition acts to expire
The Supreme Court would claim the right of the Court to declare federal law unconstitutional (1803)

13. Election of 1800 John Adams Thomas Jefferson Charles Pinckney - VP
Aaron Burr - VP

14. The Results Jefferson defeated Adams
Electoral vote was a tie between Jefferson and Burr
House of Representatives took 36 ballots to break the tie and voted Jefferson the 3rd President of U.S.