Transcript President john adams - East Williston Union Free School

President john
adams
President John
Adams
• From Quincy, Massachusetts.
• Signer of the Declaration of Independence, US
Diplomat, George Washington’s Vice President.
• Federalist: Will pursue the Federalist agenda
throughout his presidency.
US Foreign policy under
president Adams
• The war between Great Britain and France will
continue throughout Adam’s presidency.
• The French are angry with the United States after
Congress passed the Jay Treaty.
• France feels that The United States favors Great Britain.
• In 1797, French ships start to seize American merchant
ships in the West Indies.
• Adams will send diplomats to France.
The xyz affair
• The French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de
Talleyrang, tries to extort the American diplomats.
• Before Talleyrang would meet with the American
diplomatic team, he has his agents demand a $250,000
bribe, and a $10 million dollar loan from the United
Sates.
• Adams did not reveal the name of the French Agents sent
by Talleyrang, in a speech to congress he referred to them
as X, Y, and Z.
THE XYZ Affair
• American became infuriated with France once the
XYZ Affair become public knowledge.
• “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”
• Adams wanted to maintain Washington’s neutrality, he
would not go to war, but would take measures to
defend the United States.
• Strengthens the United States Navy to protect U.S.
merchant vessels.
• The “Quasi-War.”
The Quasi-War
A Divide in the
Federalist Party
• Some Federalists went against Adams’ foreign policy.
• Alexander Hamilton and other Federalists believed two events
would occur if the U.S. went to war with France.
• It would weaken the Democratic-Republican Party.
• The U.S. would have to build a strong army, that would result in
further strengthening the federal government.
• There is now a split between Adams and Hamilton.
• In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte takes power in France, signs an
agreement to end the Quasi-War and recognize the neutrality of
American merchant vessels.
• Adams kept the country out of war, but at a heavy cost, election
of 1800.
• Alexander Hamilton and his supporters in the Federalist Party
wanted war with France. The party endured a schism over
Adams policy towards France.
Alien & Sedition Acts
• Due to the impending conflict with France, the Federalists
will pass several controversial acts to protect America in
1798.
• The Alien Act: The president has the right to expel any
foreigner from the country if they fell they may threaten the
United States.
• Citizenship Law: Originally a immigrant would have to wait
5 years to obtain citizenship. The law changed the time
limit to 14 years.
• The Sedition Act: Citizens can be fined or jailed for
speaking out against the government.
The Rights of states
• Adams Vice President, Thomas Jefferson, opposed the
Alien and Sedition Acts.
• Jefferson believed that the states had the right to nullify
a law passed by the federal government.
• With assistance from Thomas Jefferson and James
Madison, Kentucky and Virginia pass resolutions.
• Each state “has an equal right to judge for itself ” the
constitutionality of a law.
The Election of 1800
• The Democratic-Republican platform will include
opposition to the high taxes used to prepare the
military for a impending war against the French, and
the Alien & Sedition Acts.
• The Democratic-Republicans backed two candidates,
Thomas Jefferson (President) & Aaron Burr (Vice
President).
• The Federalists nominated John Adams.
The Election of 1800
• The Democratic-Republicans won the popular vote, but
there was a tie in the Electoral College.
• Thomas Jefferson (73 votes)
• Aaron Burr (73 votes)
• In this time period the electoral college did not vote
separately for President and Vice President. Each
Democratic-Republican elector cast a vote for Jefferson and
Burr.
• Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives
would have to vote to decide who the next President of the
United States will be.
The Election of 1800
The election of 1800
The Election of 1800
• It took Congress 4 days and 36 votes to break the tie.
• Decision:
• President: Thomas Jefferson
• Vice President: Aaron Burr
• Congress passes the 12th amendment as a result of the
election of 1796 & 1800.
• Electors must vote separately for President & Vice
President.
• The election of 1800 begins the decline of the
Federalist Party.
Key Points
• Adams, like Washington, kept the nation out of war, but at
a cost, his decision will split the Federalist Party and cost
him the election of 1800.
• The Alien & Sedition Acts were very controversial and to
many a violation of the 1st Amendment.
• The issue of the Alien & Sedition Acts continued the debate
between federal vs. state power. Virginia and Kentucky felt
they had the right to nullify laws from the federal
government that they deemed unconstitutional.
• The election of 1800 proved democracy works, a new party
entered office peacefully without violence.