Adam’s PresidencyAdam’s Presidency

Best known forBest known for - XYZ affair / quasi war with France and- XYZ affair / quasi war with France and - Alien and Sedition Acts- Alien and Sedition Acts - Midnight Appointments- Midnight Appointments

Adams won, but Jefferson came in second and so Adams won, but Jefferson came in second and so became Vice-President (still no party ticket at this time). became Vice-President (still no party ticket at this time). Created and awkward situation - men from different Created and awkward situation - men from different parties serving in two highest offices. (changed under parties serving in two highest offices. (changed under Amend 12 – party ticket /separate elections)Amend 12 – party ticket /separate elections)

Difficulties for Adams:Difficulties for Adams: Big shoes to fillBig shoes to fill Presided over a divided party: Hamilton was a constant bitter Presided over a divided party: Hamilton was a constant bitter

enemy, resigning as Sec. of the Treasury in 1795enemy, resigning as Sec. of the Treasury in 1795 He faced a stronger Republican party.He faced a stronger Republican party.

Adams was considered a “very accomplished and Adams was considered a “very accomplished and talented statesman, of high virtue, but had few skills as a talented statesman, of high virtue, but had few skills as a politician…was austere, rigid, aloof, could not conciliate politician…was austere, rigid, aloof, could not conciliate divisions, solicit support, or inspire enthusiasm..” (like divisions, solicit support, or inspire enthusiasm..” (like Grenville)Grenville)

Adams PresidencyAdams Presidency

Foreign Policy / Relationship with FranceForeign Policy / Relationship with France

Handling of the Quasi-War with FranceHandling of the Quasi-War with France Reaction to the XYZ AffairReaction to the XYZ Affair Role in agreement with France / Convention of Role in agreement with France / Convention of

18001800 Kept US out of war – maybe his greatest Kept US out of war – maybe his greatest

achievementachievement

The Quasi War with Fr. / XYZ affair.The Quasi War with Fr. / XYZ affair.

US relations with Britain and Spain improved as a result US relations with Britain and Spain improved as a result of Jay's and Pinckney's treaties. But relations with of Jay's and Pinckney's treaties. But relations with France, now under the Directory, went from bad to France, now under the Directory, went from bad to worse.worse.

Infuriated with the US over Jay's Treaty – to them the Infuriated with the US over Jay's Treaty – to them the US had broken the Treaty of 1778 and co-operated with US had broken the Treaty of 1778 and co-operated with the British – the French navy captured US ships, seized the British – the French navy captured US ships, seized cargo, impressed sailors… cargo, impressed sailors…

France refused to recognize new US ambassador, France refused to recognize new US ambassador, Charles Pinckney (sent to replace Monroe)Charles Pinckney (sent to replace Monroe)

Some extreme Federalists called for war with France, but Some extreme Federalists called for war with France, but most Federalists, inc. Adams, Hamilton, wanted peaceful most Federalists, inc. Adams, Hamilton, wanted peaceful resolutionresolution

Adams sent Pinckney, Marshall, Gerry, to negotiate with Adams sent Pinckney, Marshall, Gerry, to negotiate with the French Govt. / Directory the French Govt. / Directory

Were met by 3 agents of the Directory's Foreign Were met by 3 agents of the Directory's Foreign Minister, Prince Tallyrand: demanded a loan for France Minister, Prince Tallyrand: demanded a loan for France and a bribe for themselves before any meeting would and a bribe for themselves before any meeting would take place. take place.

The outraged delegates refused - "No, No, Not a The outraged delegates refused - "No, No, Not a sixpence". sixpence".

Adams reported this to Congress: denounced insulting Adams reported this to Congress: denounced insulting behavior by the French and urged readiness for warbehavior by the French and urged readiness for war

Republicans asked for proof: Adams produced the Republicans asked for proof: Adams produced the message, deleting the names of the 3 French agents, message, deleting the names of the 3 French agents, substituting X,Y,Z. substituting X,Y,Z.

Provoked widespread public response and more calls for Provoked widespread public response and more calls for war war

But no official declaration of war: though for the next 2 But no official declaration of war: though for the next 2 yrs the US was involved in an undeclared naval war or yrs the US was involved in an undeclared naval war or Quasi WarQuasi War with France with France

US cut off all trade with France, officially abrogated US cut off all trade with France, officially abrogated the treaty of 1778, and authorized the US navy and the treaty of 1778, and authorized the US navy and private vessels to attack French ships. private vessels to attack French ships.

In 1798 Congress created a Dept. of the Navy and In 1798 Congress created a Dept. of the Navy and began to build warships, set up the US marine corps, began to build warships, set up the US marine corps, expanded the army to 10,000... “War mania swept expanded the army to 10,000... “War mania swept country”. country”.

US began to win duals with the French navy; captured US began to win duals with the French navy; captured 85 French ships 85 French ships

US was now virtually on British side in war with France US was now virtually on British side in war with France – both co-operated - Britain helped with training of US – both co-operated - Britain helped with training of US navynavy

New ruler of France, Napoleon, finally agreed to talks New ruler of France, Napoleon, finally agreed to talks with US in 1800: didn’t want to be distracted from his with US in 1800: didn’t want to be distracted from his European campaign…didn’t want US and Britain to European campaign…didn’t want US and Britain to become too closebecome too close

Treaty / Convention of 1800: canceled the 1778 Treaty / Convention of 1800: canceled the 1778 agreement, and estd. new commercial arrangements, agreement, and estd. new commercial arrangements, ended impressment, compensation for past impressment, ended impressment, compensation for past impressment, recognition of new ambassador.recognition of new ambassador.

The The Quasi WarQuasi War came to an end – Federalists and public came to an end – Federalists and public were pleased with the Treaty – the US at last was freed were pleased with the Treaty – the US at last was freed from the alliance with France.from the alliance with France.

Domestic PolicyDomestic Policy

Alien and Sedition Acts (didn’t veto them)Alien and Sedition Acts (didn’t veto them) Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: challenge Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions: challenge

to the Supreme Court / Judicial Review: to the Supreme Court / Judicial Review: Adams not part of debateAdams not part of debate

Election of 1800: bitter, acrimoniousElection of 1800: bitter, acrimonious Judiciary Act, 1801: “midnight appointments:” Judiciary Act, 1801: “midnight appointments:”

packed Judicial branch with Federalistspacked Judicial branch with Federalists

In 1798 elections Federalists increased their adv in both In 1798 elections Federalists increased their adv in both houses of Congress: benefited from tough attitude to / houses of Congress: benefited from tough attitude to / standing up to Frenchstanding up to French

Federalists wanted to take adv. of their popularity – and try Federalists wanted to take adv. of their popularity – and try to weaken the opposition / Reps. to weaken the opposition / Reps.

Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts: their pretext was the Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts: their pretext was the supposed necessity of “protecting the nation from supposed necessity of “protecting the nation from dangerous foreign and internal subversive influences during dangerous foreign and internal subversive influences during war time”, but the real goal was to undermine the growth of war time”, but the real goal was to undermine the growth of the Democratic Republicansthe Democratic Republicans

Alien ActAlien Act: Qualification for citizenship was extended from : Qualification for citizenship was extended from 5 to 14 yrs residency: gave Pres. wide powers of 5 to 14 yrs residency: gave Pres. wide powers of deportation: meant to discourage immigration (first deportation: meant to discourage immigration (first challenge to Open Door policy): why? most immigrants challenge to Open Door policy): why? most immigrants became Democ-Rep voters became Democ-Rep voters

Sedition ActSedition Act, empowered the govt. to prosecute those who , empowered the govt. to prosecute those who engaged in "sedition" against the gov. (vague term – “any engaged in "sedition" against the gov. (vague term – “any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting discontent or action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting discontent or rebellion”). rebellion”).

The hope was to silence Democ-Reps, who were sometimes The hope was to silence Democ-Reps, who were sometimes critical of the war, and stall their growthcritical of the war, and stall their growth

Adams (though he had reservations) signed the new laws Adams (though he had reservations) signed the new laws but was cautious in implementing them – didn’t deport any but was cautious in implementing them – didn’t deport any aliensaliens

Sedition Act did lead to dozens of arrests – mostly Sedition Act did lead to dozens of arrests – mostly Republican newspaper editors who criticized Federalist Republican newspaper editors who criticized Federalist policies – but only 10 were convicted.. policies – but only 10 were convicted..

But Reps still felt that the laws were repressive and But Reps still felt that the laws were repressive and tyrannical in intent: were unconstitutional: denial of rights tyrannical in intent: were unconstitutional: denial of rights to freedom of speech and press (of 1st Amendment)… to freedom of speech and press (of 1st Amendment)… were against Rep. values, ideals of the Revolutionwere against Rep. values, ideals of the Revolution

Jefferson was furious that the Supreme Court (Federalist Jefferson was furious that the Supreme Court (Federalist appointments: pro Federalist judges) did not intervene to appointments: pro Federalist judges) did not intervene to veto the Alien and Sedition Acts on the basis of veto the Alien and Sedition Acts on the basis of unconstitutionality – didn’t exercise its powers of unconstitutionality – didn’t exercise its powers of Judicial ReviewJudicial Review

Jefferson and Madison argued that since the Supreme Jefferson and Madison argued that since the Supreme Court had not accepted its responsibility, it was now up to Court had not accepted its responsibility, it was now up to the Statesthe States

The states had created the Fed Govt. – so they would have The states had created the Fed Govt. – so they would have to provide “checks and balance” if the Supreme Court to provide “checks and balance” if the Supreme Court didn’t, if it was derelict in its duty – the states should step didn’t, if it was derelict in its duty – the states should step in to declare the laws unconstitutional (veto / in to declare the laws unconstitutional (veto / NullifyNullify them)them)

Became known as the Became known as the Compact TheoryCompact Theory ( from Locke – ( from Locke – right to rebel…)right to rebel…)

They put their ideas into resolutions / motions put before They put their ideas into resolutions / motions put before the state legislatures the state legislatures

But they failed to win support on behalf of But they failed to win support on behalf of NullificationNullification: : only Va. and Ky. voted to accept the resolutionsonly Va. and Ky. voted to accept the resolutions

In later years, Jefferson’s In later years, Jefferson’s Compact TheoryCompact Theory would be would be distorted, used by Federalists to argue in favor of distorted, used by Federalists to argue in favor of individual states breaking with the union - individual states breaking with the union - SecessionSecession..

But Jefferson and Madison never intended to break up the But Jefferson and Madison never intended to break up the union: were not in favor of union: were not in favor of SecessionSecession. Really didn’t even . Really didn’t even want the States to want the States to Nullify (voided by States)Nullify (voided by States) – were trying – were trying to pressurize, embarrass, intimidate Supreme Court into to pressurize, embarrass, intimidate Supreme Court into accepting its responsibilities / doing its job impartially accepting its responsibilities / doing its job impartially

They were also focused on the upcoming elections….. They were also focused on the upcoming elections….. electioneering…..trying to discredit the electioneering…..trying to discredit the Federalists…..keeping Govt.’s repressive policies in the Federalists…..keeping Govt.’s repressive policies in the spotlight…to win voters / votes for Rep’sspotlight…to win voters / votes for Rep’s