John Adam’sPresidency

President Adams and the XYZ Affair (Adams Timeline)

Presidential election of 1796• Washington retired after two terms.• Thomas Jefferson was the Democratic-Republican

candidate.• John Adams was the Federalist candidate.

• Though Adams became president, he did not have the full support of the presidential electors.

• Because of sectionalism, the southern Federalists preferred his running mate, Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina.

• Thomas Jefferson came in second with 68 votes to Adams’s 71 votes.

• Jefferson became vice president.

President Adams and the XYZ Affair

XYZ Affair• France had attacked

American merchant ships.• French agents (referred to

as X, Y, and Z) demanded bribes of the American diplomats who went to France to negotiate an end to the ship seizure.

As a result, Congress: • Cut off trade with France• Canceled wartime treaties

it had made with France• Authorized building

warships• Allowed the U.S. navy to

capture French vessels at sea

The XYZ Affair brought a general resentment of foreigners, which led to passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts.

To avoid war with France, President Adams sent 3 US representatives

(John Marshall, Charles Pinckney and John Jay) to negotiate a peace

agreement…..US representatives were snubbed

by the French government……Eventually, 3 French

representatives (known as X, Y and Z because they refused to give their

names) XYZ demanded a bribe of $250,000

to merely talk with TallyrandInsulted, we refused the demands

and left France…US & French begin to fight an

undeclared naval war.

President Adams on President Adams on the XYX Affair….”I will the XYX Affair….”I will

never send another never send another minister to France minister to France

without assurances without assurances that he will be that he will be

received, respected, received, respected, and honored as the and honored as the representative of a representative of a

great, free, powerful great, free, powerful and independent and independent

nation.”nation.”

xyz

Adams Tallyrand

• XYZ Affair• French demanded an apology• Demanded a $12 million loan.

• XYZ Affair• French demanded an apology• Demanded a $12 million loan.

Fighting with FranceFighting with France• 1798-1800: In undeclared hostilities,

mostly around West Indies

• US captured over 80 French ships but lost several hundred to France.

• Needed only slight push for war.

• 1798-1800: In undeclared hostilities, mostly around West Indies

• US captured over 80 French ships but lost several hundred to France.

• Needed only slight push for war.

Patriotism Above PartyPatriotism Above Party• New French leader, Napoleon

and Talleyrand did not want war, or to push the US to Britain

• French send back-channel message that new US minister would be received properly

• 1799: Adams submits to Senate new minister to France

• New French leader, Napoleon and Talleyrand did not want war, or to push the US to Britain

• French send back-channel message that new US minister would be received properly

• 1799: Adams submits to Senate new minister to France

Patriotism Above PartyPatriotism Above Party• Convention of 1800 signed:

– ended Franco-American alliance

• Adams deserves credit:– Avoided war– Unknowingly laid foundation for LA

Purchase

• Adams will not be re-elected in 1800

• Convention of 1800 signed:– ended Franco-American alliance

• Adams deserves credit:– Avoided war– Unknowingly laid foundation for LA

Purchase

• Adams will not be re-elected in 1800

XYZ Affair

• Numerous American ships were seized by French ships.• The Americans went to negotiate with the French.• They had to pay $250,000 “tribute” or bribe to talk to the

French Minister about U.S. and French relations.• “Millions for defense, sir, but not one cent for tribute.” • France and the U.S. engaged in a undeclared naval war.• Many Federalist wanted to declare war on France

President Adams and the XYZ Affair

• Alien Acts: three laws that allowed the president to order foreigners considered to be a threat to national security to be jailed or deported.

– Targeted French and Irish refugees, most of whom supported the French

– Increased the period of residency required for citizenship from 5 years to 14

– Required foreigners to register with the government– Allowed the president to jail or expel any foreigner thought

to be “dangerous to the peace and safety” of the country

• The Sedition Act outlawed any opposition to government policies by actions or by “false, scandalous, or malicious writing.”

– Targeted the Democratic-Republicans, who historically supported the French

Alien and Sedition Act of 1798

• Push through Congress by J. Adams

• Increased the size of the army and navy

• It gave the President the right to imprison and deport citizens of another country

• Any person who writes, publishes, or says anything “false, scandalous, and malicious” against the U.S. government or its officials will be jailed.

President Adams and the XYZ Affair

• Nine Democratic-Republican newspaper editors and a member of Congress were convicted under the Sedition Act.

• Jefferson and Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, where they argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional.

• They hoped states would nullify the laws.• Only Virginia and Kentucky passed the resolutions.

• In the end, there was a deeper and more bitter political divide in Congress and the country.

Adams/napoleon

•Convention of 1800 signed:– ended Franco-American alliance

•Adams deserves credit:–Avoided war–Unknowingly laid foundation for LA Purchase

•Adams sacrificed his re-election in 1800 to keep US out of war

–Patriotism above self-interest

Adams Napoleon

Election of 1800

• Thomas Jefferson won the popular vote.• Jefferson and Burr ties with 73 electoral

votes. House Votes• Eventually, the House elects Jefferson

with the help of Hamilton. Hamilton hated Burr

• Why was this Election important?• Peaceful transfer of power….Unheard of in

those days…

ISSUEISSUE:: Does the United States Govt have the right to suspend your rights

(Bill of Rights) in time of crisis (such as war) to protect the national security of

the country?

ALIEN ACTALIEN ACT:: Congress gave President Adams the power to deport any

immigrant who was considered a risk to national security….Also, changed naturalization (immigrants who want

to become citizens) from 5 years to 14 yrs…

SEDITION ACT:SEDITION ACT: Congress gave President Adams special powers to

arrest anyone who spoke out against the war effort….Primarily against

Jefferson’s Democratic/Republicans and newspaper editors who opposed

the war…..

Alien/sedition

• “That if any person shall write, print, utter, or publish, or shall cause or procure to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and willingly assist in any

false,

• Scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of

Congress or the President of the United States,

• Then such person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States, shall be punished by a fine not

exceeding two thousand dollars and by imprisonment not exceeding two years……”

DOCTRINE OF NULLIFICATIONDOCTRINE OF NULLIFICATION:: Since the States created the National

Government, they have the right to nullify, cancel or decide not to obey a law they cancel or decide not to obey a law they

believed was unconstitutionalbelieved was unconstitutional ….

Kty/va resolutions

•Jefferson’s and Madison’s response to the Sedition Act…..

•Believed Sedition Act violated freedom of speech and press.

•They tried to convince the other states not to support the Sedition Act….

•It failed and the Sedition Act remained the law until 1801.

• That the General Assembly protests against the alarming infractions of the Constitution, in the "Alien and Sedition Acts"

passed at the last session of Congress.

• That this state having by its Convention, expressly declared, that among other essential rights, "the Liberty of Conscience and of the Press cannot be cancelled, abridged, restrained, or

modified by any authority of the United States,"

• The General Assembly appeals to the other states, in confidence that they will concur that the acts are

unconstitutional and that the necessary and proper measures will be taken by each in maintaining the Authorities, Rights, and Liberties, referred to the States respectively, or to the people.

Thomas Jefferson’s Presidency

The Election of 1800

• This contest marked the first time that power passed from one American political party to another.

• Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson against Federalist John Adams

•The campaign was vicious.•Supporters of each side made their arguments in letters

and newspaper editorials, which often made wild accusations and spread scandalous stories.

The Election of 1800

Federalists claimed that • Jefferson was dangerously pro-French.• Jefferson wanted to destroy organized religion because

of his interest in science and philosophy.

Democratic-Republicans claimed that •Adams wanted to crown himself king. •The Federalists would try to limit Americans’ rights (using

the Alien and Sedition Acts as proof of their claims).

The Election of 1800Problems• The election ended in a tie between Jefferson and Burr.• Political parties did not specify who was the party’s preferred

candidate for president. • The House of Representatives was deadlocked for 35 votes.• Hamilton urged Federalists to vote for Jefferson. On the 36th

vote, Jefferson was chosen president.

• These problems with the voting system led to the passage of the Twelfth Amendment (1804), which said that electors must cast separate ballots for president and vice president.

• Burr held a grudge against Hamilton for supporting Jefferson and for preventing him from winning the governor’s race in New York in later years. In 1804, Burr killed Hamilton in a duel.

•Many historians look at this time period as the beginning of the true democracy.

•Champion for the common mancommon man•Believed education would prepare them for

participation in government…..•For now, educated should rule…

•Believed National Government became too powerful during Adam’s Presidency

Jeffersonian democracy

•Kept most FederalistFederalist programs. WHY? •Washington/AdamsWashington/Adams laid a solid foundation for USA.

•Pardoned those arrested with Sedition ActSedition Act•Repealed the Whiskey taxWhiskey tax•Kept Hamilton’s financial policies—BUSBUS•Eliminated Alien ActAlien Act

The Role of the Supreme Court Changes

• Federalist legislators in Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1801, which created new positions in the judicial branch.

• Departing President John Adams hurried to fill them with Federalists.

• Adams’s signed documents had to be delivered to each man to make the appointments official.

• Not all were delivered before Jefferson took office the next day.

• James Madison, the new secretary of state, refused to deliver the remaining commissions.

The Role of the Supreme Court Changes

• William Marbury, one of the men who did not receive his commission, brought suit in the Supreme Court.

• He claimed that the Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Court the power to force Madison to deliver the commission.

• The Court ruled that the Constitution gave the Supreme Court the power to hear only certain kinds of cases.

• The Constitution did not give the Court the power to force Madison to deliver Marbury’s commission.

• It ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional.• Marbury v. Madison established the Supreme Court’s power of

judicial review, to declare that a law violates the Constitution.

“Midnight Judges”

• John Adams appoints judges on his last night of his presidency.

• William Marbury is appointed a judge by Adams.

• The next day, Jefferson becomes President.

• His Secretary of State, James Madison, refuses to give Marbury his appointment

William Marbury

Marbury vs. Madison

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Marbury.

• This Case established Judicial Review• The Supreme Court can strike down any

act by Congress or decision by the President if it goes against the Constitution.

• John Marshall, Chief Justice, ruled on this case

Jefferson Makes Changes

Succeeded in reducing government

• Only customs duties and the sale of lands produced revenue for the government.

• Reduced the size of the executive department staff

Succeeded in reducing size of military

• Reduced the size of the army and navy

• However, built up navy to help merchant ships when attacked by pirates

The Louisiana Purchase• General Napoleon

Bonaparte wanted to build a French empire.

• Bonaparte to regain France’s former lands called the Louisiana Territory

• Those lands had gone to Spain in the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

• In 1800 Spain returned Louisiana to France.

• Spanish officials closed the

lower Mississippi and New Orleans to American shipping.

• Spain turned over control of the area to France.

Louisiana Purchase

• The United States purchased The Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million.

• Napoleon needed money to fight his European War

Napoleon BonaparteNapoleon Bonaparte

The Louisiana Purchase

• On April 30, 1803, they signed an agreement with France to buy the land—final price about 80 million francs, or $15 million

• Almost doubled the territory of the United States

• Jefferson sent James Monroe to Paris to try to purchase New Orleans and West Florida.

• At the meeting, France offered to sell the United States all of the vast Louisiana Territory.

• Jefferson and his fellow strict constructionists decided that the right to acquire territory was implicit in the president’s constitutional power to make treaties.

• The Constitution did not directly give Jefferson the authority to buy new territory for the nation.

The Louisiana Purchase• Jefferson sent the Corps of Discovery, usually called the Lewis

and Clark expedition, to explore the land of the Louisiana Purchase.

• Led by Meriwether Lewis, Jefferson’s secretary, and William Clark, an experienced frontiersman

• Their ultimate goal was to reach the Pacific Ocean. • They mapped the country and surveyed its natural history,

including plants, animals, and landforms. • Were helped by their guide, a Shoshone woman, Sacagawea

• Zebulon M. Pike led an 1805 expedition that traveled 2,000 miles to explore the upper Mississippi Valley.

• In 1806 he explored the Southwest and gathered information about the economy and defenses of Spanish New Mexico and Texas.

Lewis and Clark

• The Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-1806) was the first American overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back.

• Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of western expansion, had Congress appropriate $2500, "to send intelligent officers with ten or twelve men, to explore even to the western ocean."

• They were to study the Indian tribes, botany, geology, wildlife in the region, and a river route to the Pacific.

• As well as evaluate the potential interference of British and French-Canadian hunters and trappers who were already well established in the area

• The expedition followed the Missouri through what is now Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska, crossed the Rocky Mountains and descended by the Clearwater River, the Snake River, and the Columbia River through what is now Portland, Oregon until they reached the Pacific Ocean in the December of

• Lewis had written in his journal, "Ocean in view. Oh! The Joy". By that time the expedition faced its second bitter winter during the trip, so the group decided to vote on whether to camp on the north or south side of the Columbia River.

• That was a "Real American Moment", for York, who was a slave, and Sacagawea, who was an Indian and a woman, voted along with the rest of the men of the party. The party agreed to camp on the south side of the river, building Fort Clatsop as their winter quarters. While wintering at the fort, the men prepared for the trip home by boiling salt from the ocean, hunting elk and other wildlife. Mostly they just endured the persistent rain.

• The explorers started their journey home on March 23, 1806 and arrived on September 23.

Sacagawea• Sacagawea, a

Shoshone, assisted Lewis and Clark on their journey.

• She was a scout and a translator.

• She did all this was giving birth and carrying her son.

embargo1

Angered by an insulting remark

attributed to Hamilton,

Burr challenged the Federalist leader to a duel and fatally shot

him

Angered by an insulting remark

attributed to Hamilton,

Burr challenged the Federalist leader to a duel and fatally shot

him

Hamilton’s death in 1804 deprived the Federalists of their last great leader and earned

Burr the enmity of many

Hamilton’s death in 1804 deprived the Federalists of their last great leader and earned

Burr the enmity of many

embargo1

Secretly forming a political pact with some radical New

England Federalists.

Burr planned to win the governorship of New York in

1804.

Unite that state with the New England states, and then lead this group of states to secede

from the nation

Secretly forming a political pact with some radical New

England Federalists.

Burr planned to win the governorship of New York in

1804.

Unite that state with the New England states, and then lead this group of states to secede

from the nation

Most Federalists followed Alexander Hamilton in opposing Burr, who was defeated in the New York election

The conspiracy then disintegrated

Most Federalists followed Alexander Hamilton in opposing Burr, who was defeated in the New York election

The conspiracy then disintegrated

In 1806, Burr planned to take Mexico from Spain

and possibly unite it with Louisiana under his rule

Jefferson learned of the conspiracy and ordered Burr’s arrest and trial for

treason

In 1806, Burr planned to take Mexico from Spain

and possibly unite it with Louisiana under his rule

Jefferson learned of the conspiracy and ordered Burr’s arrest and trial for

treason

A jury acquitted Burr, basing its decision on Marshall’s narrow definition of treason and the

lack of witnesses to any “overt act” by Burr

A jury acquitted Burr, basing its decision on Marshall’s narrow definition of treason and the

lack of witnesses to any “overt act” by Burr

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

•1806, Chesapeake was a US merchant ship 10 miles off the coast of Virginia. A British ship in the region ordered it to stop.

•British fired 3 shots at the Chesapeake before it surrendered

•3 Americans were killed, 18 wounded and 4 sailors impressed

Chesapeake affair

Embargo of 1807

• The Napoleonic Wars brought trouble for US trade• Ships were being boarded by the French and British.

– Chesapeake Affair: The British kill 21 and board the U.S.S Chesapeake.

• The Embargo outlawed trade with foreign countries. Why????

• The Embargo enraged New England Federalist.• This hurt Jefferson, so he decides not to run in 1808.

Madison Wins• The Embargo is eventually lifted. • It hurt the United States.

embargo1

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Jefferson’s response to the

Chesapeake Affair was the Embargo

Act of 1807….

•Short of war, Jefferson

attempted to defend our

neutrality by stopping all

American exports to the world.

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off our exports to them it would force them to

respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED ECONOMIC COERCION.

•It would have the reverse effect……•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also

hurt U.S. trade which was our economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to smuggle

goods from these countries as well as others.•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809

•Reasoning: Since England and France were at war with one another and traded for most of their natural resources with U.S., if we cut off our exports to them it would force them to

respect our neutrality….THIS IS CALLED ECONOMIC COERCION.

•It would have the reverse effect……•The Embargo Act not only hurt France and Britain but it also

hurt U.S. trade which was our economic survival as a nation. As a result, many Americans defied the law and began to smuggle

goods from these countries as well as others.•Hurt American businesses•New Englander’s shift from trade to industry•U.S. smuggled•New England talked of secession…..•Lasted 15 months, repealed in March of 1809 embargo2

•American people were hostile towards Jefferson

•Referred to the Embargo as “Dambargo, Mobrage,

Go Bar Em”….

•Would be replaced by the Non-Intercourse Act by

President Madison which allowed U.S. exports and trade but not with France

and Great Britain……

embargo2

“Our ships all in motion,Once whiten’d the ocean;

They sail’d and return’d with a Cargo;Now doom’d to decayThey are fallen a prey,

To Jefferson, worms and EMBARGO.”

A Federalist circular in Massachusetts A Federalist circular in Massachusetts against the embargo cried out,against the embargo cried out,

““Let every man who holds the name of Let every man who holds the name of America dear to him , stretch forth his hands America dear to him , stretch forth his hands

and put this accursed thing, this Embargo and put this accursed thing, this Embargo from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty, from him. Be resolute, act like sons of liberty,

of God, and your country; nerve your arms of God, and your country; nerve your arms with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson) with vengeance against the Despot (Jefferson)

who would wrest the inestimable germ of who would wrest the inestimable germ of your Independence from you---and you shall your Independence from you---and you shall

be Conquerors!!!”be Conquerors!!!”