The John Adams Administration. Adams & Jefferson

The John Adams

Administration

Adams & Jefferson

Cabinet – Clashing Views

Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State

Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury

Democratic-

Republicans

Federalists

The First Two-Party System

Federalists Democratic-RepublicansIssueGovernment: State or national?

Interpretation of the Constitution: Strict or Loose?

Tariffs, Banks & Business or farming?

Banks: National or State?

Defense: Standing Army or Militias?

Foreign Policy: Support Britain or Support France?

Regions of Support: N, S, E, W?

Nullification

More important: Order or Liberty?

Party Leaders & Presidents

Questions1) Why does the Electoral

College encourage a two-party system rather than a multiparty system?

2) Explain how Thomas Jefferson’s election in the “revolution” of 1800 changed the way the federal (national) government operated.

National State

Two Parties

Election of 1796

A New President• John Adams• Boston Patriot• Federalist

Vice President• Thomas Jefferson• Virginian• Republican

(Democratic-Republican

• Became VP because he received second-most votes

• At odds with Adams

XYZ Affair

The XYZ Affair• Jay Treaty – An alliance

with Britain?• French seize 300

American ships in French harbors

• Adams sends negotiators to Paris to meet with “X, Y and Z”

• French demand $250,000 payment and $10 million loan

• "Millions for defense, sir, but not one cent for tribute!“

• Link

The Quasi War• Piracy, small naval

battles• Convention of

1800 – ends the Quasi War, but terminates US alliance with France against Britain

• U.S. is now neutral, following Washington’s farewell advice

Alien & Sedition Acts

Alien & Sedition ActsFour Bills• Naturalization Act• Alien Friends Act• Alien Enemies Act• Sedition Act

Naturalization Acts1790 1795 1798

Notice time

no notice required

3 years 5 years

Residence period

2 years 5 years 14 years

Target: potential English & Irish immigrants who would likely vote

for the Jeffersonian Republicans

Alien Friends Act• 1798• Arrest and

deportation of “dangerous” aliens

Alien Enemies Act• 1798• Arrest and

deportation of resident aliens whose home countries were at war with United States

Sedition Act

• Outlawed criticism of government officials unless the claims could be proven

First Nullification

Crisis

Nullification• Jefferson and many states

oppose the Alien & Sedition Acts

• Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions call the act “null and void”

• States vs. federal government: who wins?...

• …principle remained untested because Adams lost next election to Jefferson

John Marshall• Supreme Court• Believed that

courts, not states, should interpret and declare laws unconstitutional

Election of 1800

Election of 1800• Mudslinging

– Obama attack ad– Romney attack ad– Youtube video

Sally Hemings Controversy

Election of 1800

Election of 1800• Jefferson wins• “Revolution of

1800”… peaceful transfer of power

A Federalist Judiciary?

John Marshall• Strong

Federalist• Appointed to

Supreme Court by John Adams

• Expanded power of federal government and judicial branch

“Midnight Judges”• “Lame duck”

Federalist Congress– Judiciary Act of 1801– Adams appointed

judges in the last days of presidency

– Attempt to entrench Federalists in judicial branch

• Jefferson refused to deliver commissions