The Struggle Over Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Issues

The Struggle Over Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy Issues • Jay’s Treaty • Chief Justice John Jay sent to London to negotiate a number of disagreements left from the Revolutionary War

Foreign Policy Issues • Wanted removal of British forces in US • Payment for ships taken in the West Indies • Accept American definition of neutrality

Foreign Policy Issues • British agreed to leave the forts and some small ship alone • Rejected the US position on neutral rights • Will continue to search American ships on the high seas

Washington Says Farewell • September 1796 • Washington warned against all political factions • Avoid making permanent alliances with distant nations that had no intention in promoting American security

The Election of 1796 • Washington completes his second term and announced he would not seek a third term

The Election of 1796 • Jefferson (Republican) and • Adams (Federalists) run for Pres

The Election of 1796 • John Adams won the election, with Jefferson to serve as his Vice President

John Adams as President • 61 years old • Harvard educated lawyer • Short, bald, overweight, and vain • “His Rotundity”

John Adams as President • Adam’s first issue as President was the interference of American shipping by French naval vessels • An American delegation was sent to Paris

The XYZ Affair • The French, postponed official negotiations. • Meanwhile, three French emissaries (known later simply as X, Y, and Z) demanded that the Americans pay a bribe of $250, 000 and provide a $10 million loan.

The XYZ Affair • Adams recalled his delegation and condemn the French government

The XYZ Affair • The Federalist-controlled Congress prepared for war by authorizing a 20, 000 man army and calling George Washington out of retirement as commander in chief • During the winter of 1798, an undeclared naval war took place between France and the United States.

The Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalist dominated Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts

The Alien and Sedition Acts • Alien Enemies Law: gave the president the power to imprison or deport any foreigner believed to be dangerous to the United States

The Alien and Sedition Acts • Alien Law: made it a crime to attack the government with "false, scandalous, or malicious" statements or writings.

The Alien and Sedition Acts • Naturalization Law: lengthened the period necessary before immigrants could become citizens from 5 to 14 years

The Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalist prosecutors used the Sedition Act to convict ten editors and printers.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • Kentucky and Virginia adopted resolutions written by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison denouncing the Alien and Sedition Acts • Kentucky Resolutions declared the federal government had violated the Bill of Rights

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • Virginia Resolution • Advanced the idea that the states had a right to declare federal laws null and void • Election of 1800 would decide this…

Death George Washington • December 13 th, 1799 George Washington woke his wife, complaining of severe pain • Over the course of that day doctors attempted to ease the pain of the former president

Death George Washington • December 14 th, 1799 the former president died • Richard Henry Lee delivered the most famous eulogy • Proclaimed Washington was “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen”

The Election of 1800 • Candidates • Thomas Jefferson, Republican vs. John Adams, Federalist

The Election of 1800 • Jefferson defeated Adams by 8 electoral votes, so did Aaron Burr (Jefferson’s running mate) • House of Representatives called on to settle tie • Took 6 days and 35 ballots

The Election of 1800 • Alexander Hamilton intervened, persuaded Federalists to cast votes for Jefferson • Hamilton thought Jefferson was more qualified to lead than Burr

The Election of 1800 • 36 ballot Rep James Bayard of Delaware announced he no longer supported Burr

The Election of 1800 • 12 th Amendment passed to eliminate problem again • Electors cast separate vote for President and Vice President • Election of 1800, Showed the world that the American republic could withstand political change • Federalists step down and allow the Republicans to take over

Daily Quiz

Why was Jefferson not automatically named President after he won the popular vote in 1800? • Jefferson did not have a majority of electoral college votes.

The election of 1800 showed both Americans and Europeans that • political power could be transferred peacefully.

Which laws allowed the President to jail any alien considered undesirable? Alien and Sedition Acts

Name the incident in which the French demanded $250, 000 to speak with their foreign minister. XYZ Affair