John Adams Cornell Notes

John Adams• Elected President

in 1796 as a

FEDERALIST

• Vice-Pres. –

Thomas Jefferson

(Republican)

• President for one

term

Foreign Policy: Conflicts with France

XYZ Affair• France begins to capture American ships after U.S.

refuses to help them in war against Britain

• Adams sent representatives to work out peace with

France. They were met by 3 secret agents who

said their names were “X”, “Y”, and “Z”

• France says they won’t stop attacking ships unless

U.S. pays them off.

• Adams refuses to pay and refuses to declare war on

France. “Not one penny for Tribute!”

• Adams Tells American Ships they have permission

to fight back against the French.

War with France?!

I feel that John Adams should choose to… because…

War with France?!

• A. Hamilton pushed John Adams to go to war with

France.

• Adams knew America was not ready for another war.

• In February 1799, Adams sent representatives to

work out a peace treaty with France.

• Hamilton and the Federalists were furious at Adams

and turned there backs on him making him

unpopular.

• Adams never regretted his decision to make peace

with France.

Alien and Sedition Acts• Federalists in Congress passed the Alien and

Sedition Acts (4 laws). Created to make life

difficult for the Republicans.– 3 of the laws made it difficult for immigrants to

become citizens and able to vote.

– 1 law made it illegal to say or print anything bad

about the government or the President.

• John Adams approved and signed them into

law.

• Thomas Jefferson bitterly opposed

the Alien and Sedition Acts as a

violation of the rights of citizens

• James Madison wrote the Virginia

and Kentucky Resolutions. It

stated that if a stated decides a

law is unconstitutional, it has the

power to nullify (cancel) that law

within its borders

Opposition to the Acts and States’ Rights

John Adams as President

• Adams kept the United States out of war with

France even though it cost him his career in

government and politics

• The Federalist Party turned their back on Adams

and Alexander Hamilton did not support him in

the Election of 1800.

• Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans hated

the Alien and Sedition Acts because they

violated the rights of Americans.

Grading John Adams…

I feel John Adams earned… (A, B, C, or F) as President because…