John Adams

Election of 1796

First openly contested election

Federalists – John Adams (wins)

Republicans – Jefferson

Quasi-War with France

Naval “war” with France for two years

France unhappy with Jay’s Treaty -

• "Dude I thought we were allies"
• Privateers of Revolutionary France
• Seen as hostile by Federalists

Adams

Sends envoys to negotiate with French

• Washington’s envoy had been threatened with arrest

France's Revolutionary government was unstable

They demand payments and bribes

American reps waited

four months be seen

(Napoleon was busy)

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Jefferson and Madison wrote them

Criticized the Alien and Sedition acts

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions stated

• Assaulted the individual's right to criticize the government officials
• Ignored the basic principles of federalism
• Demonstrates the Federalists' contempt for the people

States had the right to declare laws unconstitutional

Election in 1800

Federalists and John Adams Charles Pinckney

• Unpopular Alien and Sedition Acts
• Unpopular new taxes
• Attempting to bring Jefferson’s character into question

Origins of a party identity begin

• caucus system
• party platforms

Party press becomes more strident

• “smear” campaign vs. Jefferson and Adams

Results

• President John Adams lost

• Jefferson and Burr each received 73 Electoral votes

• No way to elect the president and vice president independently

• Election went to the House of Representatives

Election of 1800 Aftermath

• Twelfth Amendment changed the presidential electoral process.

• Rise of a legitimate opposition

• Emergence of two party system in United States “modern” politics

• Sectional interests continue their influence..

Election of 1796

Eric Foner Alien Sedition

Quasi War

XYZ Affair

Congress

• Armed privateers
• Commissioned an army
• Ordered new ships built

Alien and Sedition Acts

The offer from Talleyrand (French foreign minister)

Give a loan of 12 million dollars to the French government

John Adams Alien Sedition HBO

Foreign influence within the United States was dangerous and must be "exterminated."

Make the United States more secure from alien (foreign) spies and domestic traitors

To weaken Democratic-Republican Party.

Publicly apologize for anti-French statements that Adams had made

250,000 dollar 'fee' be paid directly to Talleyrand

Adams saw the “war” as a means to:

Other European smaller nations did it

• Avoided conflict with France
• Bribes and loans way to do business

Persuade France and others to respect America's rights on the oceans

Respect America's right to free trade as a neutral and independent nation

Inaugural Day Obama-Trump

Inaugural Day Bush -Obama

France was working from a point of strength

• Its army had proven highly effective in Europe

• Directory, had gained considerable prestige

• Officials in the Directory become corrupt

1800 Campaign Ads

Commissioners returned to the United States, empty handed

The American public was outraged

• The sixteen states deadlocked through 36 ballots and over several days

Congress enacted a series of measures to raise an army

• Authorize a Navy Department.
• Annuls treaties with France
• Authorizing privateers and public vessels to attack French ships
• France agreed to American terms in the Convention of 1800 (we win!)

1800 Firsts

i.The election of 1800 was the first time candidates ran on issue platforms

ii.The first time parties nominated candidates

iii.Only time that a vice president ever ran against the president with whom he served.

Jefferson Aaron Burr Democratic-Republican

Attacked the Federalists for

• Deficit spending
• Unfocused foreign policy.
• States' rights became the main issue.

CONVENTION OF 1800

• The Quasi-War was to end.
• France agreed to return captured American ships.
• U.S. agreed to compensate its citizens for damages inflicted by France on American shipping
• The Franco-American Alliance was terminated.
• U.S. and France granted each other most-favored-nation status.
• U.S. and France reestablished commercial relations