The Presidency of
John Adams
1796-1800
EQ – How did President Adams confront
internal & international conflicts during this era?
1796
Adams
elected
President
1 – What problems did this
election underscore?
Party division!
Jefferson (D-R), the second place finisher,
became Adams’ Vice-President
Federalists vs. Democrat-Republicans
 Federalists
 Strong central
government
 Supported National
Bank
 Supported suppressing
the Whiskey Rebellion
 High Tariffs/Excise
Taxes
 Alexander Hamilton
 Loose Interpretation of
the Constitution
 Democrat-
Republicans







Support State’s Rights
Opposed heavy
excises/tariffs/National
Bank
Desired a strong Bill of
Rights
Disgusted by the
suppression of the
Whiskey Rebellion
Thomas Jefferson
Formerly the “AntiFederalists”
Strict Constructionists
The Napoleonic Wars
 Napoleon = dictator of France
 Declares war on Europe (Britain, German
Confederation, Austria, Italy, Russia)
 America hopes to serve as peace maker
Political Parties
 Despite Washington’s warnings, political parties
developed.
 The first two political parties were the Federalists
and Democratic-Republicans.
 The Federalists wanted a strong national
government. The Democratic-Republicans thought a
strong national government would lead to tyranny.
Hamilton versus Jefferson
 Alexander Hamilton led the Federalists.
 Thomas Jefferson led the Democratic-Republicans.
 Northern merchants and manufacturers became
Federalists.
 Southern farmers and workers became DemocraticRepublicans
John Adams Becomes 2nd President
 After Washington
retired, his VicePresident, John Adams
became the second
president.
 Thomas Jefferson came
in second. He became
Vice-President.
XYZ Affair
 The U.S. was having problems with France. They
were seizing American ships so they couldn’t trade
with England.
 Adams sent men to France to work out the
problems.
 However, the talks would occur only if the
Americans agreed to loan France $10 million and
to pay the minister a bribe of $250,000. The
 Americans refused. The incident became known as
the XYZ Affair.
1796
XYZ
Affair
2 – What effect did this have on
US-French relations?
Hurt US-French relations; fought
against French ships (Quasi War)
Alien and Sedition Acts
 President Adams was criticized for the XYZ affair
by Democratic-Republican newspapers.
 He blamed the papers and new immigrants for
his problems.
 To silence his critics, the Alien and Sedition Acts
were passed.
 These acts targeted aliens —immigrants who were
not yet citizens.
1798
Alien &
Sedition
Acts
3 – What measures were
contained in these acts?
Immigrants who criticize or publicly
discredit the government can be
arrested & deported
Which party passed
this law?
How did this law
help this party?
 One act increased the waiting period for becoming a
U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 years.
 Other acts gave the president the power to arrest
disloyal aliens or order them out of the country
during wartime.
 A fourth act outlawed sedition. Saying or writing
anything false or harmful about the government
became illegal. Newspaper editors were arrested.
 Many people thought the Alien and Sedition Acts
violated the First Amendment.
1798
Virginia
and
Kentucky
Resolutions
4 – What did these
resolutions declare?
Declared the Alien & Sedition
Acts unconstitutional
Who wrote these
controversial resolutions?
Why does this
cause a
problem?
Adams wins the Presidency in the
Election of 1796
French attack US ships (impressment)
XYZ Affair
Quasi War (undeclared naval war)
Alien & Sedition Acts
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
Jefferson is elected President (1800)
What was the effect of Adams’ Presidency on the nation?
Policy Issues for President Adams
Jay Treaty
(1794)
French impressment
of American ships
French feel
betrayed because
the US signed a
treaty with Britain
Policy Issues for President Adams
French impressment
of American ships
XYZ Affair
Adams sends men
to negotiate peace,
but French officials
demand humiliating
bribes
Policy Issues for President Adams
XYZ Affair
Quasi War
Insulated, the US
expands the navy &
fights an undeclared
war with France
Policy Issues for President Adams
Quasi War
Alien & Sedition Acts
Since most immigrants
were French, US begins
to arrest & deport
those who criticize
the government
Policy Issues for President Adams
Alien & Sedition Acts
Virginia & Kentucky
Resolutions
Most immigrants
supported the D-R’s,
so Jefferson & Madison
declare the controversial
law unconstitutional
Policy Issues for President Adams
Virginia & Kentucky
Resolutions
Election of 1800
Alien & Sedition Acts
are unpopular, leading
to Adams losing his
bid for re-election
Election of 1800
“Revolution of 1800” – Peaceful
transition of power
Election of 1800
 Adams could not win reelection
 Jefferson wins the election, ties with Aaron Burr in
the Electoral College
 Alexander Hamilton dislikes Jefferson, but hates
Burr… he pushes for Jefferson to win
 House of Representatives breaks the tie, Jefferson is
chosen president, Burr = VP