Aim: What events defined John Adam’s presidency?

Who won the Presidential election of 1796? How do you know?

What happened during Washington’s presidency???• War between Great Britain & France.

o The British attacked US ships going to Europe.

• George Washington tries to solve the problem by signing Jay’s Treaty

o Made Great Britain the main trade partner of the US

• France felt that the US chose the side of Great Britain instead of theirs.

What happened during Adam’s presidency???

What?!?! The French did what???…. I thought they were my friends

• American ships traveling to Europe were being attacked by France.

• People in the US demanded war but John Adams responded with diplomacy or “tough talk”.

The XYZ affair & the Quasi War• John Adams sent 3 diplomats (Pinckney,

Marshall, and Gerry) to France to try to solve the conflict with France.

• 3 French diplomats, known as X, Y, and Z demanded a bribe of $10 million dollars. • Many Americans were now concerned with rumors of French enemy spies in the country.

• This almost started a war with France—the Quasi War (almost war)

How did Adams prepare for war with France????

Alright France, you think

you’re tough…

Ill show you…

The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Naturalization Act

To be eligible for citizenship, an alien must prove 14 years of residence within the United States (previously 5 years).

Alien ActPresident may deport any alien he views as “dangerous to the peace and safety of the U.S.” No trial or evidence required. No defense.

Sedition Act

1) Illegal to conspire to oppose any law of the United States.

2) Illegal for any person to write print or publish “any false, scandalous and malicious writing . . . . against the government.”

The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans

• John Adams and the Federalists believed the Alien & Sedition Acts were necessary and proper to ensure the safety of the nation.

• Thomas Jefferson and other Democratic-Republicans believed that the Alien & Sedition Acts were not necessary or proper.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolution and the Nullification crisis

• The states of Kentucky and Virginia refused to accept the Alien & Sedition Acts and believed they could nullify (reject, ignore) the law

• The Resolutions represented the first time that States called for rejecting a National law.

The Kentucky & Virginia

Resolutions might “dissolve

the union”