
Write a paragraph addressing the life and
presidency of John Adams.

Watch the video on John Adams. Use the
information you learned to help you complete
the video quiz.
How did Adams’ presidency challenge ideas
of freedom of expression and other rights?
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A.
◦ As soon as Adams became president,
he wanted to fix relations between the
US and France
 Relations had been damaged because
the US did not help them fight the
British and the French were interfering
with our merchant ships.
◦ Adams sent US diplomats to Paris to
smooth things out and negotiate a
treaty to protect US shipping
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When the diplomats arrived, three French agents
told them that the foreign minister (Talleyrand)
would only talk with them if he was paid a
$250,000 bribe and France was given a $12
million loan
American Diplomats said no
March 1798—Adams told Congress what
happened, substituting X, Y, and Z for the
names of the French agents

What happened when the diplomats got to
France?
◦ Three agents tried to bribe the diplomats into
meeting Talleyrand

What did the diplomats do?
◦ Refused to pay the bribe

What did Adams do next?
◦ Tell Congress what happened
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Federalists in Congress wanted war with
France. Demo-reps want to avoid war.
Though Federalists wanted war, Adams
eventually made peace with France through
diplomacy.
Loss of Adams’ popularity and discrimination
against French people living in the USA.


Democratic-Republicans continued to
support France, and this annoyed Federalists
1798—Congress passed four laws—known as
the Alien and Sedition Acts
◦ One law made it hard for aliens to become citizens
◦ One law prohibited criticism of the fed gov’t
◦ Designed to crush opposition to war

Americans, especially DemocraticRepublicans, were outraged
◦ They said this violated their First Amendment rights

What did the Alien and Sedition Acts do?
◦ Made it harder to become a citizen, made criticism
of the gov’t illegal

Why were they passed?
◦ Silence opposition (mostly Dem-Repub) to war

In response, Jefferson and Madison wrote the
VA and KY Resolutions
◦ Said Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional;
therefore states did not have to obey the law

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These resolutions weren’t powerful, but
supported the idea that states could
challenge the federal government
The Alien and Sedition Acts expired by 1802