10-4 Troubled Times for John Adams

Chapter 10: The Federalist Era

Section 4: Troubled Times for John Adams

WAR ??

America Reacts

Adams considered asking Congress to declare war on France...blaming the Americans that supported the French...namely Jefferson, his Vice-President

Napoleon Bonaparte becomes France's new leader

Napoleon is at war with Britain

Napoleon wanted USA as a friend

Tallyrand is told by Napoleon to make peace with America

Convention of 1800 USA and France agree on peace terms.

The Deal

France and America move closer to war

Popular slogan,

“ Millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute.”

Congress quickly votes to enlarge the US Navy and Army.

American ships were waging an undeclared war with France at sea.

XYZ Affair

A treaty is offered

A bribe of $250, 000. to be paid to Tallyrand.

A loan of $10 Million to France for an apology from Adams for speaking out against France.

The Americans are outraged and Pinckney replies, “No, Not a sixpence.”

Election of 1800

Federalist

John Adams

President

65 votes

Charles Pinckney

Vice-President

64 votes

Democratic-Republican

Thomas Jefferson

President

73 votes

Aaron Burr

Vice-President

73 votes

With a tie who decides the winner? A struggle between the two men began to occur.

Resolutions

Adams sends a three-person peace treaty to France

John Marshall

Charles C. Pinckney

Elbridge Gerry

France's foreign minister – Charles Maurice de Tallyrand sends three agents to meet with the Americans

Known only as X Y Z

Problems with France

Resolutions say the people of each of the states have the right to nullify, or cancel, a federal law within that state.

Each state could determine whether the federal government has gone beyond it's constitutional powers. It could then decide whether to obey the law or not.

This was the States' Rights theory.

Federalists reject the theory

The issue would reappear in the 1830's.

Unconstitutional Acts

Madison and Jefferson call the Alien & Sedition Acts as unconstitutional

Violates the First Amendment

Madison and Jefferson wrote two statements or resolutions, that were approved by the state legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky.

What will become of these resolutions ?

France unhappy with the Jay Treaty, which protected trade with Great Britain.

French ships are stopping USA ships in the Caribbean and take their cargo

France tries to influence the election of 1796 and sympathize with Jefferson

A New Capital

Sedition Act

Alien & Sedition Acts Acts passed by Federalist controlled Congress 1798

A tract of land was given between Virginia and Maryland for the District of Columbia also called Washington, D.C.

Pierre Charles L'Enfant - architect who planned Washington, D.C.

George Washington helped lay the cornerstone of the United States Capital in 1793.

George Washington dies December 14, 1799.

John and Abigail Adams are the first presidential family to move into the new unfinished President's house later called “The White House.”

Sedition – to act or speak out against the government in a way that causes unrest.

This law made it a crime to speak or write critically about the President, members of Congress, the federal government, or federal laws.

Results :

25 Democratic-Republican newspaper editors and others were arrested.

10 were convicted for printing criticisms of President Adams.

No aliens were deported under the laws

Midnight Judges

President John Adams took one last effort to

preserve the Federalist position of the Constitution.

Adams wrote out positions for Federal Judges with a term of lifetime. They were called, “Midnight Judges.”

John Marshall was the most important elected as Chief Justice. He led the Supreme Court from 1801 until his death in 1835.

Naturalization Act – Increased the time it takes to become a US citizen from 5 to 14 years Most immigrants from Ireland and France would join the Democratic-Republican Party.

Alien = foreigner living in the United States.

Alien Act – Gave the President power to imprison or deport any foreigner. This would silence the French refugees who oppose the Federalists call for war.

Alien Enemies Act – Allowed the US government to arrest and deport all aliens who were citizens of foreign nations at war with the United States

President of the USA

The voting goes to the house and each state has one vote.

Hamilton will sway the votes for Jefferson in the House.

Despite his disagreements with Jefferson he dislikes Burr more and will not see him as President.

Thomas Jefferson becomes the third President after 35 rounds of voting.

Aaron Burr is Vice President under Jefferson.

The 12th Amendment is added in 1804 and calls for electors to vote on separate ballots to elect the President and Vice-President.