Chapter 7, Section 4John Adams’s Presidency

The Election of 1796 New Era in United States Politics

More than one candidate ran for president John Adams (Federalist) vs.

Thomas Jefferson (Republican)

What did each side stand for ?(Don’t write this part. You already did, didn’t you? It’s okay)

A New President

John Adams would have to work hard to win the people’s trust George Washington was adored

by the people Even those who opposed him

respected him Hard-working, honest, and

intelligent

The United States and France John Adams wanted to improve foreign

relations with France Sent United States diplomats overseas Upon arrival, diplomats were ignored by

Foreign Minister Talleyrand and instead visited by 3 French secret agents Agents said that a treaty would only be

discussed in exchange for a $250,000 bribe and a loan of $12 million

The United States diplomats refused the demands

The United States and France In March of 1798, President John Adams

told Congress that the peace-seeking mission had failed Informed Congress of the French terms,

substituting the letters X,Y, and Z for the names of the French Secret Agents

Federalists in Congress called for war with France

XYZ Affair Americans were outraged at such disrespect

Preparations for War President John Adams asked Congress to

expand the navy to a fleet of more than 30 ships and called for the United States to keep a peacetime army Congress approved both measures

President Adams did not want to go to war with France Worried about cost Did not ask Congress for a declaration of war Tried to reopen peace talks with France

Peace EffortsPresident John Adams’s decision not

to declare war stunned FederalistsAmerican and French ships engaged

in fighting in the Caribbean John Adams sent a representative to

France and eventually, a treaty was signed President Adams then forced two

members of his cabinet to resign for trying to block his peace efforts

The Alien and Sedition Acts

Democratic-Republicans continued to sympathize with France

Alien and Sedition Acts Passed by Federalist controlled Congress 4 laws said to protect the United States but

really intended to crush opposition to war Sedition Act

Controversial law which forbade anyone from publishing or voice criticism of the federal government

Violated freedom of speech and freedom of press

The Alien and Sedition Acts Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

Viewed acts as misuse of government power Wrote resolutions passed by the Kentucky

state legislature in 1798 and Virginia in 1799 (Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions) Argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were

unconstitutional Congress did not repeal the acts, but allowed

them to expire within a few years The Resolutions supported the idea that states

could challenge the federal government

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Longtime political rivals Abigail Adams death helped the two men to

reconcile Close and personal correspondence for the

remainder of their lives Both died on July 4, 1826

Both architects of the document (the Declaration of Independence) that gave birth to this new Nation dead, 50 years to the day from the birth of the country they founded.

John Adams’s last words were “Thomas Jefferson survives” Thomas Jefferson had died only a few hours earlier