The Presidency of John Adams

The XYZ Affair Hurts John Adams’ Presidency

Troubles With France

• The French are upset over Jay’s Treaty and continue to attack American ships

• Adams tries to solve the problem by sending three diplomats to negotiate with France’s new government

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

The XYZ Affair

• When the American diplomats arrived in France, 3 French agents demanded a bribe from the Americans in order to meet

• The event became a sensation to the American public

• The French agents were kept secret and were referred to as Agents X, Y, and Z, hence XYZ Affair

War Fever!• Many Americans

demanded war on France after being embarrassed

• Adams kept his cool and settled the problem through further negotiations with France’s new dictator: Napoleon Bonaparte

• However, his own political party, the Federalists, were furious with him

Napoleon Bonaparte, France’s New Dictator

Alien and Sedition Acts

• War fever made federalists and Jon Adams fear a revolution in the U.S, this led to a mistrust of immigrants

• Federalists and Adams also sought to destroy their Republican opponents

• Federalists in Congress, along with the support of John Adams, passed the Alien and Sedition Acts:– Alien Act - An immigrant had to live in U.S for 14 years

to become a citizen (was previously 5)– Sedition Act - It became a crime to write anything

insulting or false about the government

Republicans React

• Republicans (led by Jefferson) encouraged state legislatures to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts

• Two states did: Virginia and Kentucky• These two resolutions had the long term

effect of promoting states’ rights and allowing states to challenge the federal government (a major cause of the Civil War)