American Politics in the 1790’s

FederalistsVersus

Democratic-Republicans

Growth of Political Parties

Who were the leaders? What were the issues?

THE ELECTION OF 1796 Vice President John Adams (left) against former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (right), former friends now turned bitter political enemies.

Total Number of Electors 138

Total Electoral Votes Cast 276

Number of Votes for a Majority 70

1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)

Candidate State Party Electoral Votes

Percent

John Adams Massachusetts

Federalist 71 51.4%

Thomas Jefferson

Virginia Democratic-Republican

68 49.3%

Thomas Pinckney

South Carolina

Federalist 59 42.8%

Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican

30 21.7%

Samuel Adams

Massachusetts

Federalist 15 10.9%

Oliver Ellsworth

Connecticut Federalist 11 8.0%

George Clinton

New York Democratic-Republican

7 5.1%

Other - - 15 10.9%

1796 Election Results

JOHN ADAMSstubborn,

insecure, but high-minded

Protect American interests but pro-British

How do you follow George Washington?

JOHN ADAMSPresidential Issues

◦ XYZ Affair◦ Quasi-War against

France◦ Alien and Sedition

Acts◦ Kentucky and

Virginia Resolutions◦ What do you do

when your Vice-President is working against you?

War between France and England

Adams supported British (Federalist stance)

Jefferson supported French (Democratic-Republican stance)

XYZ AffairAmerican diplomats

in Paris to negotiate◦ John Marshall◦ Elbridge Gerry◦ Charles Cotesworth

Pinckney3 unnamed French

agents (X, Y, and Z) solicited bribes from Americans

Had to pay to see French diplomats

XYZ Affair

XYZ AffairA British cartoon shows the United States (the young lady in the feathered Indian headdress) being accosted by impertinent and avaricious diplomats representing Revolutionary France.

Results of the XYZ AffairCongress (controlled by Federalists)◦Cut off trade w/France◦Used privateers to attack French ships

◦Unofficial allies with British◦Waged undeclared war with French

◦Need to strengthen defense

Beginnings of the U.S. NavyNavy Act of 1794

◦ 6 frigates built (Mediterranean)Navy (part of Department of War)

◦ Large 44-gun frigates planned. More heavily armed and faster

Marines deployed on ships◦ Tradition of British

Protect Captain and officers from crew Provide musket fire

Quasi-War on The High Seas

Operations of the Quasi-WarMain theater: West Indies

◦ U.S. vs. French◦ U.S. uses British ports◦ Most of French fleet blockaded in

EuropeU.S. naval funding increased in

1799◦ Shipbuilding increases size of Navy

The Alien and Sedition Acts

Used by Adams/Federalists to retaliate against Jefferson/Republicans

Satiric portrayal: first fight in Congress: Matthew Lyon and Roger Griswold

Lyon later prosecuted under Sedition Act

The Alien and Sedition Acts

Alien Acts June, 1798 ◦ Naturalization Act = longer residence for

citizenship◦ 5 years to 14◦ president has power to expel/incarcerate

foreigners (anti-French)Sedition Act July, 1798

◦ crime to publish criticisms of government (anti-Dem.-Rep.)

◦ Allowed arrest and/or imprisonment of anti-Federalist publishers

The Alien and Sedition Acts

Constitutional or Unconstitutional?Could Dem.-Reps. Challenge in the

courts?◦ No concept of judicial review yet◦ Most federal judges were Federalist

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798

Jefferson and Madison: Sedition Act violates 1st Amendment

States can nullify federal law if unconstitutional

Jumpstarts Jefferson’s bid for president

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798

Kentucky◦ “unauthoritative,

void, and of no force”

Virginia◦ States have right

to refuse to enforce unconstitutional federal laws

THE ELECTION OF 1800John Adams (left) and Thomas Jefferson (right) squared off for the presidency for a second time in 1800. It was the first and only instance in American history when a sitting President and Vice President ran against each other.

Election of 1800

John Adams Thomas JeffersonFederalist partyEnded quasi-warJefferson: a pro-

French radical

Democratic-Republican (Republican) party

Critical of Adams for◦ Alien and Sedition

Acts◦ Increased taxes for

undeclared war

Candidates did not campaign!

BRANDING JEFFERSON AS A DANGEROUS RADICALA Federalist cartoon depicts Thomas Jefferson was an enemy of religion, lawful government, and the Constitution, who wanted to import a French-style revolution and reign of terror to America.

FEDERALIST ATTACKS GET PERSONALThis anti-Jefferson cartoon highlights the rumors that the Virginia politician kept a black mistress (Sally Hemmings, his slave and also his wife’s half-sister)

THE CAPITAL MOVES SOUTHJohn and Abigail Adams become the first occupants of the “executive mansion” in 1800

Total Number of Electors 138

Total Electoral Votes Cast 276

Number of Votes for a Majority 70

1800 Election Results (16 states in the Union)

Candidate State Party Electoral Votes

Percent

Thomas Jefferson Virginia Democratic-

Republican 73 52.9%

Aaron Burr New York Democratic-Republican 73 52.9%

John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 65 47.1%

Charles Pinckney

South Carolina Federalist 64 46.4%

John Jay New York Federalist 1 0.7%

1800 Election Results Tie – Thomas Jefferson and Aaron

Burr . . .◦House of Representatives decides◦Each state gets one vote◦candidate with majority became

president◦House voted 35 times without a winner◦Alexander Hamilton convinces states to

support Jefferson

1800 Final Election Results After 36 Ballots

(In the House of Representatives!!) 1 vote for each State

Candidate

State Party Votes Percent

Thomas Jefferson

Virginia

Democratic-Republican

10 62.5%

Aaron Burr

New York

Democratic-Republican

4 25.0%

Blank ------- 2 12.5%

Thomas Jefferson becomes President

Aaron Burr becomes Vice-President

1800 Election Results Why would Hamilton (who hates Jefferson)

support him?Democratic-Republicans take control of

both House and Senate1796

◦Federalists have both houses and the presidency1800

◦Republicans have both houses and the presidency

Adams doesn’t stay for Jefferson’s inauguration

1800 Election Results

The “Revolution” of 1800?

New Republic ◦ Weathered international storms

French Revolution Napoleonic Wars

◦new spirit of nationalism◦ Party system

legitimate dissent (“the loyal opposition”) Established pattern for diffusing/limiting

political unrestPrecedent of peaceful transfer of

power from one party to anotherDid we pass the first, big

Constitutional test?

The Twelfth Amendment

Electors cast one vote instead of two

President/vice-president on same ticket

President/vice-president cannot be from same state