Transcript John Adams
John Adams Second President of the United States International Crisis • 1798 • Federalists bel’d the U.S. was facing the most dangerous crisis in its short history • Undeclared naval war with France • France perceived – Jay’s Treaty favored Britain – Allowed • the British to seize French goods from American ships • In exchange for financial compensation • France retaliated by capturing hundreds of ships flying the U.S. flag. Adams’ Reaction • Attempted to negotiate with France • French gov’t – Refused to receive the American envoy – Suspended commercial relations. • Asked Congress to authorize the arming American merchant vessels XYZ Affair • Against the advice of Washington and Hamilton • Adams sent three emissaries to France • The French foreign minister,Talleyrand, refused to negotiate with the diplomats • Talleyrand sent three agents – Demanded a bribe before negotiating with the American commission. – The Americans refused the bribe. • The diplomatic mission failed miserably The Press • News of the XYZ Affair triggered demands for war with France. • Americans cried, “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute” • Quasi-War ensued for two years. • Rumors of alien plots wreak havoc upon the young, fragile nation • Federalists – Acted to preclude domestic subversion – Silence opposition to the government that they controlled Federalists vs Republicans • Viewed rivals as dangerous radicals that supported a social revolution (French Revolution) • Considered the French Revolution anarchy (disorder) • Feared aliens – Extremist ideas – Corrupt the minds of Americans • Hysteria gripped members of this party – Feared immigrant participation in politics – Sought to tighten restrictions on foreigners • Bel’d the Feds – Defenders of the wealthy, commercial elite, – Eager to reinstitute monarchy • Supported – French Revolution – Attack on aristocratic privileges • Large immigrant support Alien and Sedition Acts • Four laws – to control threats to the national security – to punish the opposition party for seditious libel • Acts gave the president the power to imprison or deport foreigners believed to pose a threat to the U.S. • Made it a crime to criticize the government with false, scandalous, or malicious statements. Four Laws • Naturalization Act – increased the residency requirement for American citizenship from 5 to 14 years – required aliens to declare their intent to acquire citizenship 5 years before it could be granted – and made people from enemy nations ineligible for naturalization • Alien Enemies Act – allowed for the deportation of aliens from nations at war with the U.S. • Alien Friends Act – gave the president the power to jail or deport any alien he deemed dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States • Sedition Act – limited freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble – illegal to print, utter, or publish any false, scandalous, and malicious writing against the gov’t – prohibited assembly with intent to oppose any measure of the government Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • Jefferson and Madison • Protested – With resolutions – Gov’t was a compact between the states – Citizens, through their state legislatures, possessed the right to judge the constitutionality of federal legislation • Doctrines of interposition and nullification – States could void federal laws – States could place themselves between federal gov’t and its citizens Convention of 1800 • • • • Adams makes agreement with France Stop all naval attacks Federalists disapprove Adams loses election of 1800