Essential Question :

1. Essential Question: • How did the Adams presidency exaggerate the growth of American political party politics?

2. The Adams Presidency

3. The Election of 1796 Adams won the presidency & the Federalists controlled the national gov’t from 1796-1800 • The political parties that quietlyemergedduringWashington’s presidency played a pivotal role in the election of 1796 Former VP John Adams (Federalist) Thomas Jefferson (Republican)

4. Adams attempted to continue with Washington’s policies But…his administration was plagued with problems: Jefferson, his campaign opponent, was now his VP Most of Adam’s cabinet took their orders from Hamilton who had retired with Washington Tensions with France emerged The Adams Presidency VP Jefferson & the Republicans constantly attacked Adams policies Hamilton was the unquestioned leader of the Federalist Party, who undermined Adams by advising the cabinet to ignore the president

5. The XYZ Affair & Quasi-War • During Adams’ administration relations with France declined: • France interpreted Jay’s Treaty as an alliance with England • France seized & impressed American merchant ships • An American diplomatic mission to France failed when 3 French officials (X, Y, Z) demand bribes

6. French “impressment” of American sailors

7. The XYZ Affair & Quasi-War • The XYZ Affair led to anti-French sentiment in America & led to a “quasi-war” with France: • The U.S. tripled its armed forces to prepare for a French invasion • Adams created the Dept of Navy • The quasi-war increased the dislike between the Federalists leaders Adams & Hamilton Hamilton convinced Washington to pressure Adams to name him control of the army “Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!” Adams was forced to do so, but retaliated by failing to approve many key army appointments & decisions

8. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalists used Alien & Sedition Acts to silence Repub. criticisms: • Alien Enemies Act—presidential power to expel any foreigner • Naturalization Act—must be a U.S. resident for 14 years to gain citizenship & vote • Sedition Act—made criticism of the gov’t a criminal act • These acts were enforced by Federalist appointed judges

9. Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions • Republicans saw Alien & Sedition Acts as a dire threat to liberty: • Jefferson & Madison authored theVirginia&KentuckyResolves suggesting that states could nullify federal laws that they saw as unconstitutional • VA & KY Resolves weakened the Federalists & planted seeds of nullification that would be used to justify the Civil War

10. Adams’s Finest Hour • In 1799, Adams sent a diplomatic envoy back to France to address the XYZ “misunderstanding”: • Napoleon voided the 1778 treaty that tied the U.S. to France • France ended its trade restrictions in the West Indies • Adams dismantled Hamilton's expensive & useless army • The improved relations paved the way for the Louisiana Purchase

11. Peaceful Resolution:The Election of 1800

12. The “Revolution of 1800” • The Federalists were fatally divided by 1800: • Hamilton tried to undermine Adams’ reelection • Jefferson won election (despite a tie with VP candidate Burr) • 1800 was a “revolutionary” election because the presidency was peacefully transferred from one political party to another

13. In his inaugural address, Jefferson claimed: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists” To avoid another Jefferson-Burr tie, Congress passed the 12th Amendment which put presidential & VP candidates on separate ballots