U.S. History

Chapter 10: Launching the New Nation

Section 5: John Adams’ Presidency

The Election of 1796

•Political parties—groups that help elect government officials and shape governmental policy

The Election of 1796

•Federalist Party:

–Desired to strengthen the federal government

–Worked to promote industry & trade

The Election of 1796

John Adams Charles Pinckney

Federalist Candidates

The Election of 1796

•Democratic-Republican Party:

–Desired to limit power of federal government

–Worked to promote agriculture

The Election of 1796

Thomas Jefferson Aaron Burr

Republican candidates

The Election of 1796

• Each side attacked the other

• Hamilton tries to get Pinckney elected

Alexander Hamilton

The Election of 1796

John AdamsFederalistPresident

Thomas JeffersonDemocratic-Republican

Vice President

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

• Desired to improve relations with France

• French privateers attacking U.S. ships

• Sends diplomats to France

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

Elbridge Gerry

John Marshall

Charles Pinckney

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

• French foreign minister refuses to meet with diplomats

• Visited by three French agents

Charles-Maurice de Tallyrand-Perigord

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

•Demands

–$250,000 bribe

–$12 million loan

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

•Diplomat refuse offer

•Adams notifies Congress

•Identifies agents as X, Y, & Z

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

•XYZ Affair—nickname for a bribe offered by agents of French foreign minister Talley rand to U.S. diplomats

President Adams & the XYZ Affair

•Federalists call for war

•Adams did not seek war, but does expand military

•1800: treaty signed

Alien & Sedition Acts

•Republican criticize Democrats

–for supporting war with France

–for expanding the military

Alien & Sedition Acts

•Alien & Sedition Acts—laws passed by a Federalist-dominated Congress aimed at protecting the government from treasonous ideas, actions, & people; used against members of the Democratic-Republican Party

Alien & Sedition Acts

• Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

– Authored by Jefferson & Madison

– Stated acts were unconstitutional

– Stated that states did not have to follow laws they believed were unconstitutional

Election of 1800

John Adams &

Charles Pinckney

Thomas Jefferson&

Aaron Burr

vs.

Election of 1800

•Attacks on Adams

–Creation of permanent army

–Higher taxes

–Tensions with France

Election of 1800

•Attacks on Jefferson

–Pro-French revolutionary

–Anti-religious

A Narrow Republican Victory

John Adams65 electoral votes

Charles Pinckney64 electoral votes

Thomas Jefferson73 electoral votes

Aaron Burr73 electoral votes

Federalists

Republicans

A Narrow Republican Victory

•Decision sent to House of Representatives

•Hamilton supported Jefferson he because he was “by far not so dangerous a man” as Burr

A Narrow Republican Victory

•House casts 36 ballots

•Jefferson emerges as winner

•12th Amendment added to Constitution to modify method of electing president