Good Ol’ John AdamsSasso

US I

Election of 1796John Adams and Thomas Pinckney for the FederalistsThomas Jefferson is the main candidate for the

RepublicansElection has some quirks to itGW waited a long time to announce that he would

not be seeking a third termDid not give TJ a whole lot of time to prepare his

partyAdams will defeat TJ, 71-68In three of the states TJ won, at least one elector

gave a vote to Adams

AdamsThough TJ is very popular,

it’s very hard to argue with Adams’ credentials

Spent the vast majority of his life in public service

Early leader of the Revolution

Member of both Continental Congresses

Had been a foreign envoy/ambassador to France, Holland, and England

Representative at the Treaty of Paris

AdamsAdams will inherit most, if not all, of GW’s

problemsForeign nations will look to take advantage of

both the new president, and the shift in power

France will be issue #1France is very upset about neutrality and the

Jay TreatyFrench navy will begin to attack American

shipsAdams will send Charles Pinckney as an

ambassador, but France will not receive him- BIG PROBLEM

XYZ AffairAdams really wants to

make peace, so he will send envoys (ambassadors) to France

Envoys approached by 3 “representatives” of PM Charles Talleyrand

Reps tell US that Talleyrand won’t even meet them unless money is paid (a bribe)

Americans immediately broke off talks

XYZ AffairFrench agents are referred to as Agents X, Y, ZEvent becomes explosive in AmericaA lot of anger and resentment is directed towards

FranceAdams refuses to send another ambassador to France “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute”As a result, Congress will create a Department of the

NavyBuild up warships, who along with privateers, will

begin waging an undeclared naval war against France

War FeverThis is perfect for the Federalist PartyTimes of war call for the strengthening of the federal

governmentAlso makes the Federalists more popular than the generally

Pro-French RepublicansAlso, if war keeps going, that strengthens the Federalists

chances for the Presidency in 1800However- Adams will not let that type of thinking affect his

decision-making with regards to FranceWhen Talleyrand offers to receive an ambassador for peace

talks, Adams sends oneBy the end of his term, peace will be restored, but Federalist

leaders are not happy with AdamsIt’s a bold move by Adams, but a bit of political suicide

Adams and the RepublicansThe battles with France will actually hurt the

RepublicansAllows Federalists to increase majorities in

CongressFederalists will look to legislatively silence

the Republican opposition Also want to weaken the Republican voting

baseCongress will pass the Naturalization Act, as

well as the Alien and Sedition Acts

Naturalization ActThe Naturalization Act looked to eliminate one of

the Republicans voting strongholds- Immigrant groups

Targets the large influx of French and Irish immigrants coming into the country

The act will extend the residency requirements for becoming a citizen from 5 years to 14 years

Many immigrants coming to the US in the early to mid-1790’s would have been able to vote in the election of 1800 under the old system

Odds were very strong that they would have voted for Jefferson , but now they can’t

Alien and Sedition ActsUnder the Alien Act, all immigrants would have to register

with the federal govt.Federal govt. also had the power to deport anyone they

perceived as being “dangerous”This is done to discourage potential immigrants from coming

to America, as well as giving the govt. a HUGE powerUnder the Sedition Act, the govt. was allowed to prosecute

anyone who engaged in “sedition” against the govt.Essentially, the Federalists made it a crime to speak out

against the govt. (think of some of the examples from Last of the Mohicans)

This will allow the govt. to arrest several Republican leaders

Alien and Sedition ActsAlthough these Acts were

put in place to weaken the Republicans, it only makes them stronger

Confirms their belief that the Federal govt. is too strong

Supreme Court is very limited in its power at this point, so the Republicans have to take it upon themselves to fight the Acts

JeffersonTJ doesn’t have much to do as VP, so he will do

some serious work for his partyJefferson and Madison will draft the Kentucky (TJ)

and Virginia (JM) ResolutionsBoth documents were drafted “anonymously”Both documents claim that the Constitution was

an agreement amongst states to establish the central govt.

If an Act of the federal govt. exceeds it’s power, state has the right to refuse to obey- nullification

The idea of secession was floated by TJ