Lesson 3: John Adams's Presidency Flashcards
Frigates Definition
a fast-sailing warship
Incumbent Definition
an official that currently holds an office
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions Definition
the declarations passed in 1798 and 1799 that claimed that each state has the right to decide whether a federal law is constitutional
Nullify Definition
to cancel
Sedition Definition
crime of attempting to overthrow the government by force or to disrupt its lawful activities by violent acts
State’s Rights Definition
the right of states to powers independent of the federal government
What problem did John Adams have to deal with soon after he was elected?
No sooner had John Adams taken office than he faced a crisis with France. The French objected to Jay’s Treaty because they felt that it put the United States on the side of Britain. In 1797, French ships began to seize American ships in the West Indies, as the British had done.
What did the Americans ask for in response to France’s actions? What did John Adams do?
Once again, Americans called for war, this time against France. To avoid war, Adams sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations.
What was The XYZ Affair?
The French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, did not deal directly with the Americans. Instead, he sent three agents to offer the Americans a deal. Before Talleyrand would even begin talks, the agents said, he wanted $250,000 for himself and a $10 million loan to France. “Not a sixpence!” replied one of the Americans angrily. (A sixpence was a British coin worth six pennies.)The diplomats informed Adams about the offer. He then told Congress. Adams did not reveal the names of the French agents, referring to them only as X, Y, and Z. Many Americans were outraged when news reached them about the XYZ Affair in 1798. (The affair had taken place in 1797, but it took time for news to cross the ocean by ship.) They took up the slogan, “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” They were willing to spend money to defend their country, but they would not pay a bribe to another nation. The XYZ Affair ignited war fever in the United States. Despite strong pressure, Adams refused to ask Congress to declare war on France. Like Washington, he wanted to keep the country out of European affairs. However, he could not ignore French attacks on American ships, so he strengthened the navy by building frigates, fast-sailing ships with many guns. That move helped convince France to stop attacking American ships.
Why did Federalists, such as Hamilton, disagree with John Adams’s actions? What deal was made with Napoleon Bonaparte?
Led by Hamilton, many Federalists criticized Adams. They hoped a war would weaken the Democratic Republicans, who supported France. War would also force the nation to build its military forces.
A strong military would increase federal power, a key Federalist goal. Many Federalists also favored Britain in its war against France. Although Adams was a Federalist, he resisted Hamilton’s pressure for war. Their disagreement created a split in the Federalist party. Over Hamilton’s opposition, Adams again sent diplomats to France. When they arrived, they found an ambitious young army officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, in charge. Napoleon was planning for war against several European powers. Thus, he had no time for a war with the United States. He signed an agreement to stop seizing American ships. Like Washington, Adams kept the nation out of war. His actions showed qualities of leadership and courage. His success, however, cost him the support of many Federalists and weakened the party for the election of 1800.
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts? What did they state? What was their purpose? How did Democratic Republicans respond?
In 1798, during the crisis with France, Federalists pushed several laws through Congress. These laws were known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. Under the Alien Act, the President could expel any alien, or foreigner, thought to be dangerous to the country. Another law made it harder for immigrants to become citizens. Before 1798, white immigrants could become citizens after living in the United States for five years. The new law made immigrants wait 14 years. The Federalists passed this act because many recent immigrants supported Jefferson and the Democratic Republicans. The act would keep these immigrants from voting for years. The Democratic Republicans grew even angrier when Congress passed the Sedition Act. Sedition means stirring up rebellion against a government. Under this law, citizens could be fined or jailed if they criticized the government or its officials. In fact, several Democratic Republican newspaper editors, and even members of Congress, were fined and jailed for expressing their opinions.
What was Albert Gallatin’s role in the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Representative Albert Gallatin opposed Federalists in their attempts to fund the fighting with France. As a result, he was targeted by the Federalists. The Alien and Sedition Acts were believed by some to be written to remove Gallatin from power.
What were the Democratic Republicans’ views on the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Democratic Republicans protested that the Sedition Act violated the Constitution. The First Amendment, they argued, protected freedom of speech and of the press. Jefferson warned that the new laws threatened American liberties:
They have brought into the lower house a sedition bill, which … undertakes to make printing certain matters criminal … Indeed this bill & the alien bill both are so [against] the Constitution as to show they mean to pay no respect to it.
—The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 1798
What were the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions? Why were they formed?
Vice President Jefferson bitterly opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts. He could not ask the courts for help because the Federalists controlled them. So, he urged the states to take strong action against the acts. He argued that the states had the right to nullify, or cancel, a law passed by the federal government. In this way, states could resist the power of the federal government.
With help from Jefferson and Madison, Kentucky and Virginia passed resolutions in 1798 and 1799. The Kentucky and Virginia resolutions claimed that each state “has an equal right to judge for itself” whether a law is constitutional. If a state decides a law is unconstitutional, said the resolutions, it has the power to nullify that law within its borders. The Kentucky and Virginia resolutions raised the issue of states’ rights. Did the federal government have only those powers that were listed in the Constitution? If so, did the states possess all other powers—for example, the power to declare a federal law unconstitutional? Within a few years, the Alien and Sedition Acts were changed or dropped. Still, the issue of a state’s right to nullify federal laws would come up again.
What two issues did the Democratic Republicans focus on in the 1800 presidential election?
By 1800, the war cry against France was fading. As the election neared, Democratic Republicans focused on two issues. First, they attacked the Federalists for raising taxes to prepare for war. Second, they opposed the unpopular Alien and Sedition Acts.
