The document discusses John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the key candidates in the 1796 presidential election. It notes their diplomatic backgrounds and roles in the Declaration of Independence. The election resulted in Adams winning the presidency while Jefferson became vice president as the runner up. This established the system of the presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate coming from opposing parties. The document also discusses the Alien and Sedition Acts passed under Adams, which were aimed at suppressing Republican opposition but were unpopular.
3. Adams
An accomplished diplomat
Peace of Paris (1783), ambassador to the Dutch
Republic & Great Britain, VP
Accused of favoring British (Jay’s Treaty was too
kind)
Not a great speaker, not good at resolving conflicts,
temper
Some of the reasons that he served only one term
*On committee w/ Jefferson that wrote Declaration
4. Jefferson
Also, an est. diplomat
Sec. of State, Minister to France, Governor of VA
Declaration of Independence
Accused of being too pro-French
Connected to violence of the French Revolution
5. Election of 1796
Now with parties in place, there was to be an election without GW as president
Jefferson/Burr vs. Adams/Pinckney
Electors had 2 votes, runner-up=VP
Adams won the job, Jefferson was 2nd thus was Vice-President
Jefferson used his position to attack Federalist policies
*Changes w/ 12th Amendment in 1804
Many Federalists favored Thomas Pinckney of SC over Adams
Showed sectional split of Federalist Party
Adams continued Hamilton’s pro-British policy
Last election that the Federalists would win
6.
7. Election of 1796
Adams (Federalist)—71
Jefferson (Republican)—68
Pinckney (Federalist)—59
10 state legislatures chose members of EC
6 states allowed the people to choose members of
the EC
Adams took over a divided nation
8. 12th Amendment
“….vote by ballot for President and Vice-President,
one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of
the same state themselves; they shall name in their
ballots the person voted for as President and in
distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-
President…”
Ratified in 1804
Replaced Article II, Section 1, Clause 3
9. GW’s Farewell Speech
What are the key
ideas/advice?
Did Americans listen to
his advice?
10. GW’s Farewell Speech
A letter partially written by Hamilton!
Warned against international conflicts
Also against FACTIONS & overgrown military
11. GW’s Farewell Address
Washington warns specifically of the destructive potential
of parties or causes that "now and then answer popular
ends," but that over time can "become potent engines by
which cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men will be
enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp
for themselves the reins of government."
Taken from:
http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/milestones/farewell_a
ddress_about.html
12. Adams as President
Took over a split party
Not the most influential Federalist (Hamilton)
Republican opposition was growing stronger
13. Quasi War/XYZ Affair
U.S.-French relations crumble
French vessels capture American ships
Many favored war (Hamilton), but Adams instead
negotiated
1798-XYZ Affair: American officials sent to Paris to
negotiate a treaty that would replace old alliance of 1778
French officials presented Am. diplomats w/ demand for
bribes before negotiations started
Adams called his agents X, Y, and Z: cut off trade with
France in 1798 and seized French ships
14.
15. Quasi War/XYZ Affair
French Foreign Minister Talleyrand tried to bribe American officials before
negotiating
Outrage at France’s actions
Strong support of the Federalist response
Increased Federalist power in Congress in 1798
Undeclared naval war
Adams had Congress cut off all trade with France
Authorized American vessels to capture French ships
Department of Navy created in 1798
Minimal casualties on both sides
British became an ally with U.S.
Britain/France @ war @ this time
Quasi War ended in 1800 with peace in Paris
16. By the way, Louisiana!
By the end of the 18th century, Napoleon had grabbed
the French throne and was looking westward to increase
his empire. The secret Treaty of San Ildefonso between
Spain and France, signed in 1800, gave the King of
Spain's son-in-law power over Tuscany in trade for
returning the Louisiana Territory to French control. For
the Spanish, New Orleans had been a mixed blessing:
Spain brought in great wealth from its expensive tariffs,
but suffered from dealing with the otherwise troublesome
city, which was completely waterlogged, with hordes of
mosquitoes and yellow fever. Both leaders were
somewhat pleased by the deal.
17. Setting the Scene:
An attempt by Federalists to increase their strength
and eliminate Republican opposition
Remember, Washington did not favor political
parties!
Alien and Sedition Acts are among most
controversial legislation ever in American History!
18. Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Act: Placed obstacles in the way of foreigners
who wished to become American citizens
Gave president more power in dealing with “aliens”
Could deport those that seemed “dangerous”
Naturalization process now took 14 yrs., had been only 5
Sedition Act: allowed gov’t to prosecute those who
engaged in sedition against the gov’t
Main target was Republican pres
Laws made it possible to stop any opposition!
19. Action/Reaction
D-R’s saw these as a Federalist campaign to
destroy them
Adams hesitated but signed them
20. How Used:
Alien Act: discouraged immigration
Encouraged foreigners already in U.S. to leave
Sedition Act: arrested and convicted 10 men, most
D-R newspaper editors whose only crime had been
to criticize the Federalists
Which constitutional amendment was being
violated?
21.
22. Lyon-Griswold Brawl
Matthew Lyon, from VT, member of Congress &
editor of a Republican newspaper
Received a sentence of 4 months & $1,000 fine
23. Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions
1798-1799
Jefferson wrote resolution adopted in KY legislature
Madison wrote resolution adopted in VA legislature
Used the ideas of John Locke
Said federal gov’t formed by a compact or contract
among the states
24. Virginia and Kentucky
Resolutions
Nat’l gov’t only possessed certain delegated powers
When feds used un-delegated powers, the acts were
“un-authoritative, void, and of no force”
This should give states the right to nullify the
appropriate laws
25. Outcome
The dispute between the parties became a national
one, despite the resolutions not working
Major political division in states
Violent disagreements in Congress at times
Fighting between Lyon & Griswold, see cartoon on
p. 179
Spitting & hitting
27. Judiciary Act of 1801
Federalists reduced the number of S.C. justices by
one
Increased the number of federal justiceships as a
whole
Adams appointed Federalists to these new
positions— “midnight appointments”