US History
Fort Burrows
9.4 -- The Second President
READ pgs 291 – 295
Main Idea:
As President, John Adams pursued policies that made the Federalists
increasingly unpopular.
Vocabulary:
XYZ Affair - French attempt in 1797 to bribe the US by demanding payment
before talks could begin on the issue of French seizure of neutral American ships
frigate - fast-sailing ship with many guns
Alien and Sedition acts - Federalist-supported laws that permitted the President to
expel foreigners, made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, and allowed
for citizens to be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials
sedition - stirring up rebellion against a government
nullify - to cancel
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions - declaration that claimed each state has the
right to decide whether a federal law is constitutional and to nullify
laws deemed unconstitutional within a state’s borders
state’s rights - the right of the state to limit the power of the federal government
Setting the Scene:
John Adams was very different than GW. Washington was tall and dignified. Adams
was short and a bit pudgy. Washington spoke little and chose his words carefully.
Adams was outspoken. He said what he believed, and he held strong beliefs. Jefferson
recalled how Adams sometimes became so angry during an argument that he ended up
“dashing and trampling his wig on the floor.” Despite his temper, Adams was an
honest and able leader. As President, he tried to act in the best interests of the nation,
even when he knew his actions could hurt him politically. More than once, Adams
stood up to public opinion or the leaders of his party.
Conflict With France
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Adams took office and faced a crisis with France
French objected to Jay’s Treaty because they felt it favored Britain
French ships seized American ships, just like the British had done
Americans called for war against France
Adams sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations
Talleyrand, French foreign minister, sent 3 agents to offer the Americans a deal
Talleyrand wanted $250K for himself and a $10 M loan to France
the diplomats informed Adams and referred to the agents as X, Y and Z
Americans were outraged at the XYZ Affair – no “tributes” to another country!
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Ө XYZ Affair ignited war fever in the US but Adams refused to ask Congress to
declare war on France
The French demand for tribute outraged Americans. In the cartoon, a five-headed
monster demands a bribe.
The Americans respond: “Cease bawling, Monster. We will not give you sixpence!”
Ө Instead, Adams strengthened the navy by building frigates to convince France to
stop attacking American ships
ө The USS Chesapeake was a 36-gun sailing frigate of the United States Navy.
ө The USS Chesapeake was built at Gosport Navy Yard, now Norfolk Naval
Shipyard, between December 1798 and December 1799.
The Federalist Party Splits
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Led by Hamilton, many Federalists criticized Adams
Adams resisted Hamilton’s pressure for war which caused a split in the party
Adams sent diplomats to France again
They arrived to find Napoleon Bonaparte in charge
He was busy fighting several European powers and had no time for war with US
Napoleon signed an agreement to stop seizing American ships
Like GW, Adams kept the nation out of war
His success cost him the support of Federalists and weakened the party for the
election of 1800
Alien and Sedition Acts
Ө In 1798, during the crisis with France, Federalists pushed several laws through
Congress
Ө These laws were known as the Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Act
- President could expel any alien thought
to be dangerous to the country
- It was also harder for immigrants to
become citizens / they had to wait 14
years instead of 5 years
- This would keep aliens from voting for
years
Sedition Act
(Sedition means stirring up rebellion
against a gov’t)
- Citizens could be fined or jailed if they
criticized the gov’t or its officials
- Republicans protested this Act stating it
violated the Constitution – 1st Amendment
for freedom of speech and press
“They have brought into the lower house a sedition bill, which… undertakes to make
printing certain matters criminal… indeed this bill & the alien bill both are so against
the Constitution as to show they mean to pay no respect to it”
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 1798
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The Rights of States
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VP Jefferson opposed the Alien and Sedition acts
Courts could not help him because the Federalists controlled them
Jefferson urged states to take strong action against the acts
He argued the states could nullify a law passed by the federal gov’t
In 1798, Kentucky passed a resolution, written by Jefferson, claiming each state
“has an equal right to judge for itself” whether a law is constitutional
Ө Virginia passed a similar resolution, written by Madison
‘If states decide a law is unconstitutional, said the Kentucky and Virginia
Resolutions, it has the power to nullify the law within its borders. Kentucky and
Virginia Resolutions raised the question of states rights’. Did federal gov’t only
have the powers listed in Constitution ? If so, states possessed all other powers
including declaring a federal law unconstitutional. Alien and Sedition acts
expired but the issue of whether a state could nullify federal laws would come up
again
¿¿ How did the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions challenge the power of the federal
government ?
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Election of 1800
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By 1800, the war cry against France was fading
Federalists were backing John Adams despite the bitter split in the party
Republicans were backing Jefferson and Aaron Burr for VP
They were focused on two issues
1. Attacking the Federalists for raising taxes to prepare for war
2. They opposed the unpopular Alien and Sedition act
Ө Deadlock
ө The Republicans won the popular vote
ө The electoral college voted and Jefferson and Burr both received 73 votes
ө Per the Constitution, if no candidate wins the electoral vote, the HOR decides
ө This took days and 36 votes to break the tie and determine a winner
ө The House chose Jefferson as President and Aaron Burr as VP
ө Congress passed the 12th Amendment requiring electors to vote separately for
the President and Vice President
ө The election of 1800 set an important precedent – power has passed
peacefully from one party to the other
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Fort Burrows
Ө The Federalist Era Ends
ө After 1800, the Federalist party declined – won few seats in Congress
ө The party leader, Hamilton, was killed in 1804 in a duel with Aaron Burr
ө Federalist party did help shape the new nation – even Republican Presidents
kept most of Hamilton’s economic programs
Vice President Aaron Burr was indicted for killing Hamilton in 1804 and was
not elected Vice President for Jefferson’s second term. In 1807, Burr was
hunted down and tried for treason when he formed a conspiracy nation on the
frontier. Remember he was a filibuster back in Chapter 4 of Texas History? He
was partners with James Wilkinson and tried to take control of two states for
their own nation.
1.
Who most likely would favor the Alien and Sedition acts ?
A. Republicans
C. Federalists
B. Newspaper editors
D. Thomas Jefferson
2. How did John Adams handle conflict with France ?
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3. Why did the Federalist party split ?
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4. How did the Alien and Sedition acts raise the issue of the rights of states ?
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5. What role did the Congress play in the election of 1800 ?
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