The Presidency of John Adams

What problems plagued the nation into John Adams presidency?

Why did Adams Administration provoke great crticism by Republicans?

Election of 1796

FEDERALISTS

President: John Adams

V. President: Thomas

Pinckney

DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

President: Thomas Jefferson

V. President: Aaron Burr

Results

• Federalist President John Adams

• Democratic-Republican Vice-President Thomas Jefferson• What strange situation resulted form this?

• What underlying issue did this election expose?

• Which amendment altered this process?

Activity

• In a group of three, use pages 202-206 in the textbook and your homework notes to analyze John Adams actions as president

• Each person in the group should research a different topic, and grade Adams based on his response to the issue

• Upon completion, you should give Adams an overall “GRADE” as a president

• Then complete Part III, by “GRADING” Washington and comparing to Adams for homework this evening

The Quarrel with France

• Adams inherited violent quarrel with France over Jay’s Treaty

• French began to seize American merchant ships

• Adams sent the American envoy to meet with French Foreign Minister Talleyrand to try and settle dispute diplomatically

“XYZ” Affair

• At this meeting, three of Talleyrand’s agents, identified only as X, Y, & Z, demanded a loan of $12,000, & a bribe of $250,000 to meet with Talleyrand

• By 1798, an undeclared naval war erupted with France

• By 1800, a treaty was signed ending the “war,” and the Franco-American alliance

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Legislation passed to minimize and quiet the Jeffersonian foes of Adams• Alien Acts: President had the power to deport

dangerous foreigners in time of peace and to deport or imprison them in time of hostility

• Sedition Act: a “lockjaw” piece of legislation denying rights of the First Amendment; anyone who went against the policies of the government could be fined or imprisoned

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Many editors and journalists were indicted by the Sedition Acts

• Jefferson and Madison anonymously created resolutions condemning the Alien and Sedition Laws• Compact theory• Nullification

Focusing Questions

• What problem plagued the new Republic during the first decade of nationhood?

• How will this issue/problem impact the next presidential election in 1800?

• How will this issue/problem impact 19th century America?