Federalists Ascendant: Federalists Ascendant: John Adams’ PresidencyJohn Adams’ Presidency

US History – Libertyville HSUS History – Libertyville HS

Development of Political PartiesDevelopment of Political PartiesWashington “above” Washington “above” politics, but a federalistpolitics, but a federalist

Federalist party emergesFederalist party emerges John Adams, Hamilton, etcJohn Adams, Hamilton, etc CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Pro industrial Pro industrial developmentdevelopment

Pro BritishPro British

Pro strong central Pro strong central governmentgovernment

““Looser” interpretation Looser” interpretation of Constitutionof Constitution

Prominent Federalists

Development of Political PartiesDevelopment of Political PartiesDemocratic-Republicans Democratic-Republicans (D-Rs)(D-Rs) Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson,

Madison, etcMadison, etc CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Pro agriculturePro agriculture

Pro revolutionary FrancePro revolutionary France

Pro “common” manPro “common” man

Pro States rights (vs. strong Pro States rights (vs. strong central government)central government)

Strict interpretation of Strict interpretation of ConstitutionConstitution

Election of 1796Election of 1796

First post-Washington First post-Washington electionelection John Adams (F) – 71 John Adams (F) – 71

EVEV Thomas Jefferson (D-R) Thomas Jefferson (D-R)

– 68 EV– 68 EV Thomas Pinckney (F) – Thomas Pinckney (F) –

59 EV59 EV Aaron Burr (D-R) – 30 Aaron Burr (D-R) – 30

EVEVPresident = John Adams (F)VP = Thomas Jefferson (D-R)

President, VP From Different President, VP From Different PartiesParties

ConstitutionConstitution President to be person President to be person

with most EVswith most EVs VP to be person with VP to be person with

second most EVssecond most EVs No concept of “ticket” or No concept of “ticket” or

pres, VP running togetherpres, VP running together

Founders did not Founders did not anticipate rise of political anticipate rise of political partiesparties

Became big problem in Became big problem in Adams’ Admin.Adams’ Admin.

VP Jefferson Pres. Adams

John AdamsJohn Adams

Born in MassachusettsBorn in Massachusetts

Raised a “puritan-lite”Raised a “puritan-lite”

Became a lawyerBecame a lawyer

Second cousins to Second cousins to Samuel AdamsSamuel Adams

Joined patriot cause Joined patriot cause after Stamp Actafter Stamp Act

Popularized argument Popularized argument “no taxation without “no taxation without representation”representation”Young Adams

Birthplace of John Adams

John AdamsJohn AdamsDuring Rev. War, During Rev. War, served in Continental served in Continental CongressCongress Served on Served on

“Committee of 5”“Committee of 5” Looked to for advice to for advice

on forming on forming governments / writing governments / writing constitutionsconstitutions

Adams in EuropeAdams in Europe1777 – Adams sent to 1777 – Adams sent to France as diplomat France as diplomat

Sent back to Europe Sent back to Europe to negotiate peace to negotiate peace treaty, 1779-80treaty, 1779-80

Continued to serve as Continued to serve as ambassador to ambassador to Holland (1780-82), Holland (1780-82), England (1785-88)England (1785-88)

Portrait of Treaty of Paris negotiators(British refused to pose – portrait neverFinished)

Vice President AdamsVice President AdamsCame in second in election of Came in second in election of 1788, 1792 (second of 1788, 1792 (second of revolutionary generation, only revolutionary generation, only after Washington)after Washington)

Washington rarely asked Washington rarely asked Adams’ opinionAdams’ opinion

Adams’ main job = president Adams’ main job = president of Senateof Senate

His opinion on the Vice-His opinion on the Vice-presidency:presidency:

"My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."

President Adams: Foreign President Adams: Foreign PolicyPolicy

Continued neutralityContinued neutrality Adams wanted to stay out Adams wanted to stay out

of war between Britain, of war between Britain, FranceFrance

Problem: Jay’s Treaty Problem: Jay’s Treaty angered French, so they angered French, so they began attacking American began attacking American shippingshipping

Adams sent diplomats to Adams sent diplomats to negotiate with French negotiate with French (Pinckney, Gerry, Marshall)(Pinckney, Gerry, Marshall)

French (in distance) bearing downon damaged American ship

John Adams: XYZ Affair John Adams: XYZ Affair Three French agents Three French agents demanded $250k demanded $250k bribe, $12 million loan bribe, $12 million loan to help French fight to help French fight wars and public wars and public apology just to let apology just to let Americans see French Americans see French foreign ministerforeign minister

Americans went home, Americans went home, insteadinstead

Americans (at left) facing Frenchrevolutionary demands, in US

newspaper cartoon

John Adams: XYZ AffairJefferson demanded to see reports from diplomats (Why?)Released to public, changing French agents’ names to X, Y and ZHuge public outcry: “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!”

Token handed out during XYZ Affair

John Adams: “Quasi-War”Quasi-War: No declaration, but French, American warships attacked each other and merchant shipsAmerican negotiators offered French same terms as Jays Treaty, but French refused1800: Adams renegotiated treaty

US drops claim for damaged merchant ships

France released US from alliance of 1778

Weakened US affection for French

USS Constellation – active duringQuasi War

John Adams: Domestic AffairsAlien-Sedition Acts (1798)

Alien Friends ActAuthorized the president to deport any resident alien considered "dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States.”Aimed at French sympathizers

Alien Enemies Act (still in effect)authorized the president to apprehend and deport resident aliens if their home countries were at war with the United States

Naturalization ActExtended the duration of residence required for aliens to become citizens to 14 years

Sedition Actmade it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against the government or its officials

Fight in Congress during debateover Sedition Act, 1798

John Adams: Domestic AffairsReaction to Sedition Act

Jefferson: Unconstitutional!!First AmendmentTenth AmendmentNo Judicial Review yet (M v M in 1803) – thus, exercise of “undelegated powers” by Feds

TJ, James Madison introduce KY and VA Resolutions

Called on states to nullify laws Compact theory: US made up of

voluntary union of states giving some power to central gov’t; but states do not give away their sovereignty

If state’s sovereignty violated, then state had right to nullify Federal act or secede from union

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the Press . . .”

John Adams: Domestic AffairsAlien-Sedition Acts in Action

No aliens deported (many fled)

25 people, mainly D-R newspaper editors, arrested under Sedition Act (incl. 1 congressman!)

11 tried, 10 convictedLed to end of Federalist Party

Federalists tossed out of office

After his election, President Jefferson pardoned all those convicted under Sedition Act The power of the press . . .

The 1800 ElectionOne of the nastiest elections ever (slander, personal attacks)

Jefferson v. Adams Campaign destroyed

friendship, for years

Jefferson, Burr tie; election goes to Federalist House

On 35 ballots, deadlocked 8 states to 8 states

On 36th ballot, Hamilton convinced other Federalists to change vote to Jefferson (Burr was personal enemy)

Jefferson (D-R) 73Burr (D-R) 73J. Adams (F) 65Pinckney (F) 64

1800 Election Aftermath12th Amendment

President, VP run as a ticket Each elector casts 1 vote for

a president, & 1 vote for a VP President, VP must win

absolute majority of EC votes Deadlocks go to House,

where each state gets one vote for any of top 3 tickets

Federalists lose control of legislature, Fed bureaucracyAdams: Midnight appointments to judiciary (eventually leads to Marbury v. Madison)

Boston Sentinel, 1801