SECTION FOUR – JOHN ADAM’S PRESIDENCY

THE ELECTION of 1796● Washington called it quits and retired to Mt. Vernon, Virginia● 1796 started a new era in American politics● More than one candidate ran for president● Political parties began despite Washington’s warnings● Political parties are groups that help elect people and shape politics

■ Federalist Party ■ Democratic-Republican Party

Federalist Party

● Founded by Alexander Hamilton

● Wanted a strong federal government

● Supported industry and trade

● Chose John Adams and Thomas Pinckney as their main candidates

● Supported by business people from cities (urban)

Democratic –Republican

● Founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison

● Wanted to limit federal the federal governments power (state power)

● Supported agriculture or farming

● Chose Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr as their main candidates

● Supported by farmers from more isolated areas (rural)

THE ELECTION of 1796● Tennessee was now a state and there were 138 total electoral votes● That meant you needed 70 to become president● Pinckney finished third with 59 votes and Burr was fourth with 30 votes-all other candidates received 48 total● Jefferson became the vice president even though he was from a different party-finished 2nd

● I wonder how this will work out● Jefferson was following a legend

A NEW PRESIDENT● Adams was a leading Patriot from the Revolutionary Period, was a foreign diplomat, and was a two-term vice president● Was viewed as a cold, distant person and lacked Washington’s dignity● He was respected because of his honesty, intelligence and hard work● He will be tested multiple times while serving as President

● Adams wanted to improve America’s relationship with France● Washington and France had a problem over privateers● Adams sent diplomats in July, 1797 to France to negotiate a treaty to protect our U.S. shipping and make sure relations were good● The diplomats were Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry● They tried to meet with the French minister of foreign affairs (Marquis de Talleyrand) and were ignored.

● Three French agents called X, Y, and Z (not real names) told the American diplomats if they loaned France 12 million dollars and pay a 250,000 dollar bribe, the minister would meet with them ● Our diplomats were insulted and refused the demands● Charles Pinckney and John Marshall left for America and Elbridge Gerry stayed to try and keep negotiating● President Adams told Congress in March 1798 that a peace-keeping mission had failed.

● Congress was very upset by this, especially the Federalists● Federalists called for war with France● This became known as the XYZ Affair● “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” became a rallying call for AmericansPREPARATIONS FOR WAR● On April 30, 1798, President John Adams signed a congressional act establishing the Department of the Navy and to build 30 new ships. ● By the end of 1798, the navy owned 14 completed vessels and had more under construction.

● Adams also got permission from Congress to begin a peacetime army● Adams DID NOT want Congress to declare war even though he had built up the military● He knew we didn’t have the money to fight the warPEACE EFFORTS● He tried to re-open negotiations for peace with France● His party wanted him to declare war, but he refused● America and France entered into what is known as the Quasi-War from July 7, 1798 until September 30, 1800 when they signed the Treaty of Mortefontaine

The USS Constellation was the US Navy’s first commissioned ship in 1797.

The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought entirely at sea

● Democratic-Republicans still supported France in many cases.● The Alien and Sedition Acts were actually four separate laws and were passed by a Federalist Congress and signed by President Adams in 1798● The Federalists believed that Democratic-Republican criticism of Federalist policies was disloyal and feared that aliens living in the United States would sympathize with the French during a war● These laws were designed to silence and weaken the Democratic-Republican Party.

● Madison and Jefferson the leading Democratic-Republicans thought these acts were a misuse of government power.● They wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions that passed their states in 1798 and 1799.● The resolutions argued that the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional● They believed that states had the right and duty to declare unconstitutional any acts of Congress that were not authorized by the Constitution● They argued for states' rights and strict constructionism of the Constitution● Congress never enacted these, but they symbolized that states could challenge federal law