john adams and the election of 1796 - jacksonville, fl · 1796 election results (16 states in the...
TRANSCRIPT
John Adams and the
Election of 1796
Born in Massachusetts
1st President to live in the White
House
Father of the American Navy
Wife=Abigail
Serves one term
JOHN ADAMS
By 1796, Americans were divided
Candidates sought office for the first time
as a member of a political party
Feds and Repubs held meetings
(caucuses) where they chose their leader
Feds nominated John Adams
Republicans nominated T. Jefferson
Election of 1796
1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)
John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 71 51.4%
Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-Republican
68 49.3%
Thomas Pinckney South Carolina Federalist 59 42.8%
Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican
30 21.7%
Samuel Adams Massachusetts Federalist 15 10.9%
Oliver Ellsworth Connecticut Federalist 11 8.0%
George Clinton New York Democratic-Republican
7 5.1%
Other - - 15 10.9%
Total Number of Electors 138
Total Electoral Votes Cast 276
Number of Votes for a Majority
70
Adams elected
President by 3
votes over
Jefferson
71 to 68
Only time
Pres/VP will be
from diff political
parties
PRESIDENCY
Cause of the Problem
French thought Jay’s Treaty was
our attempt to help Britain win the war
against France
France began seizing U.S. ships
(“Quasi-War”)
XYZ Affair
American Solution Adams wanted to avoid war—sent 3
men (Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry) to
Paris to solve the crisis
XYZ Affair
French Monkey Wrench French foreign minister, Charles de
Talleyrand, refused to meet with the
Americans
He sent 3 agents (“X-Y-Z”) who demanded
a bribe and a loan from the U.S.
XYZ Affair
American Reaction Adams was furious and Congress
prepared for war (“war fever” spreads)
Dept of Navy created and larger army
Many Republicans lost their
Congressional seats
Why is Adams looking to avoid war?
XYZ Affair
A “quasi-war” with France
Made American suspicious of foreigners
who supported the French
The Spark
Naturalization Act 14 year resident before becoming a citizen
Alien Act Allowed President to imprison aliens, or send
those he considered dangerous out of the
country
Sedition Act Made it a crime to speak, write or publish “false,
scandalous and malicious” criticisms of the govt
ALIEN + SEDITION
Idea was to protect national security
Feds were hoping they would weaken the
Republican Party
Why were they passed?
Discouraged immigration and led some
foreigners to leave the country
Convicted 10 Republican newspaper
editors who had criticized the Federalists in
government
Opposition to Federalist Party grows
ALIEN + SEDITION: Results
Opposition to Federalist Party grew
Led to a movement to allow states to
overturn federal laws
REACTION
Organized by D-R
Jefferson (KY) and Madison (VA)
Claimed that Acts were unconstitutional
KY Resolution said that states could NULLIFY
federal laws considered unconstitutional
Each state is independent and had a right to
not obey a law
Federalists criticized these Resolutions as a
step toward the breakup of the Union
VA and KY Resolutions
In the 1798 Congressional elections, Reps
were voted out of office for supporting France
By 1800, Adams sends another peace
commission to France
His cabinet disagrees
Treaty of Mortefontaine
Ends undeclared naval warfare
News does not reach U.S. until after
election
Peace with France