PRESIDENCY OF JOHN ADAMS
1796
QUASI WAR WITH FRANCE

“Quasi” – seemingly, apparent, but not really.

Angered over Jay’s Treaty, France starts seizing
US trade ships going to Britain.

Instead of going to war over this, Adams sends
three men to negotiate with France.
XYZ AFFAIR

The French delegates demand bribes in order to even
start talking with the Americans.

The three American delegates alert the U.S. and rush
back to America where everyone is in a frenzy.

President Adams called the French delegates: Mr. X,
Mr. Y, and Mr. Z.
TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Congress suspends trade
with France.

U.S. Navy will capture
armed French ships.

France and U.S. start
fighting an undeclared
war, known as the Quasi
War.
CONVENTION OF 1800

Quasi War ends in September of 1800.

U.S. did not hold France to damages to U.S.
ships.

France released U.S. from Treaty of 1778.
ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS

One law aimed at preventing sedition.
 Was
a crime to print or say anything “false,
scandalous,, and malicious” against the gov’t.

Three laws aimed at aliens.
 Had
to be in U.S. 14 years to be a citizen.
 President could deport any alien without trial.
VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY RESOLUTIONS

Interposition - State could interpose between
unconstitutional federal action and states.

Nullification – States could nullify any federal
law they thought was unconstitutional.
ELECTION OF 1800

John Adams

Federalist

Thomas Jefferson

Republican
TIE IN THE HOUSE

Electoral College came to a tie between Jefferson and
Burr for President.

Tie goes to the House to vote and decide.

Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist, urged his fellow
Federalists in Congress to vote for Jefferson, thus
another tie ensued in the House.
FINALLY . . .

Jefferson convinced a
Federalist in
Congress to simply
not cast a vote either
way.

Thus, the tie was
broken and Thomas
Jefferson became the
3rd President of the
U.S.
WHY DIDN’T ADAMS FIGHT?

Federalists controlled the President, Congress,
and Army. Why not overthrow Jefferson and his
farmer Republicans?

They respected the voice of the people, and
stepped down.

Power was peacefully transferred.