A Time for Dilemma John Adams and the

A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem President John Adams The XYZ Affair The Alien and Sedition Acts

The Election of 1796 w Hamilton was the first Federalists choice for president but he was considered to controversial to run w Adams (Federalist) is chosen and is elected president in 1796

1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union) 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% Total Number of Electors 138 Total Electoral Votes Cast 276 Number of Votes for a Majority 70

1796 Election results Adams Jefferson

The XYZ Affair w Dispute between the United States and France, 1797– 98, that led to an undeclared naval war. w While France and Great Britain were at war in the 1790's, Britain and the United States signed a treaty (the Jay Treaty, in 1795) to settle mutual differences. w The French took offense to the treaty and retaliated by seizing American ships. w President John Adams dispatched federal agents to Paris to negotiate a settlement with France so they would stop attacking American ships.

The XYZ Affair w French agents demand a bride before they talked to the American agents about a treaty. w Adams announced to the nation how the French behaved w France is embarrassed that the American public knows of the bribe w The nation prepares for a possible war

Trouble on The High Seas- led to a 2 year fight with no clear winner

Peace Negotiations w Adams negotiated a stop to the fighting w Napolean Bonaparte was the French Dictator that Adams met with w Needed to focus on the fight with Britain w Being on his good side would prove to be beneficial in 1803….

His Presidency w Adams was strong willed and disliked the Jeffersonian Republicans (opponents) w Adams’ personality makes it hard for him to unify the Federalists (his party) w He’s perceived as weak by the public when he does not act on France’s threat of war

The Alien and Sedition Acts w Federalists fear that Republicans and the French will become allies w French and British refugees are coming to the United States to escape the war

The Alien and Sedition Acts w June 18, 1798 The Naturalization Act requires a longer time in the U. S. to become a citizen (5 -14 years) w June 25, 1798 Alien Act gave the president the power to kick out foreigners that he thought were dangerous (used against the French) w July 14, 1798 Sedition Act made it a crime to publish criticisms of the government

Politicians can be vindictive w The Federalists (Adam’s party) attempted to silence criticism from the Republican party by enforcing the Sedition Act w Ben Franklin’s son is actually arrested for violating the Act

The Kentucky and Virginia Resolves, 1798 w Jefferson and Madison (Democratic republicans) believe that the Sedition Act violates the 1 st Amendment w They argue that states cancel out a federal law if the state believes it to be unconstitutional w All of the Acts are eventually repealed by 1802

w Wife Abigail w First president to live in Washington D. C. History. com- political career of John Adams