John Adams 2 nd U.S. President ABOUT JOHN ADAMS Adams was born in 1735. Died in 1826 at the age of...
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John Adams 2 nd U.S. President
John Adams 2 nd U.S. President ABOUT JOHN ADAMS Adams was born in 1735. Died in 1826 at the age of 91. John’s home state was Massachusetts. John Adam’s
ABOUT JOHN ADAMS Adams was born in 1735. Died in 1826 at the
age of 91. Johns home state was Massachusetts. John Adams wife was
Abigail Adams.
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POLITICAL PARTIES Political parties are groups that are
organized to help elect government officials and to influence the
government policies. The two major parties in John Adams
presidential election were....... The Federalists AND.. The
Democratic- Republicans (Republicans for short)
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Federalists wanted to strengthen the federal government and
promote industry and trade. Republicans wanted to limit the power
of the federal government. Alexander Hamilton was the most
important member of the Federalist party, but the party elected
former vice president John Adams and Thomas Pinckney. The
Republicans chose Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
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ELECTION AND PRESIDENCY Elected in 1796, John Adams
participated in the first presidential election including more than
one candidate. Adams running mate Thomas Jefferson hated him and
tried to sabotage his campaign. Jefferson narrowly fell to Adams in
the race and came just short gaining 68 electoral votes to Adams
71. At the time, the Constitution stated that the runner up would
become the vice president, so Jefferson and Adams were put into
office together.
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On the exterior, John Adams didnt seem very presidential. Adams
lacked Washington's dignity and Jeffersons charm. Uncomfortable
around strangers, Adams was seen as very distant and cold. People
admired his intelligence, trustworthiness, and tremendous work
ethic. He started most of his days at 4a.m. and didnt go to bed
until well after 10 p.m.
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SEDITION ACT This background depicts a fight in congress over
the Sedition and Alien Acts. The Sedition and Alien Acts were the
harshest attacks Adams faced. These Acts were passed in the summer
of 1798. The Sedition Act stated that U.S. citizens could not
participate in any plots to oppose any measure or measures of the
government of the United Sates. This Act also made it illegal to
write, print, utter or publish any false or hostile words against
the government or its polices. A Republican newspaper editor
Matthew Lyon was arrested for publishing these types of things. In
response, Republicans Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions stating that these Acts were
unconstitutional.
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ALIEN ACT Alien acts allowed the president to expel foreign
citizens from the U.S. if he concluded that they were involved in
any treasonable or secret plots against the government. These acts
frightened Republicans and encouraged many French citizens living
in the U.S. to leave.
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XYZ AFFAIR This cartoon of the XYZ Affair shows France as a
monster attempting to bribe honest American diplomats. Adamss first
goal as president was to strengthen the relationship between U.S.
and France. The XYZ Affair happened when Adams sent a diplomatic
team to Paris, (Thomas Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry)
where they were met by French agents who told them the French
foreign minister Charles Talleyrand wouldnt speak with them unless
they paid a bribe of $250,000 and a $12 million dollar loan to the
French government. Adams was infuriated by this. When Adams finally
released the terms to congress, he substituted the letters X, Y, Z
for the French agents. Upon hearing this, Federalists in congress
called for war with France In preparation, Adams ordered congress
to rally a small fleet and an army of several thousand troops for
war.
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XYZ AFFAIR War was never declared. Adams tried to reopen peace
talks with France. Many of his fellow Federalists were shocked by
this and insulted him in speeches and essays. In 1800, the United
States and France signed a peace treaty.