The Federalists in Charge

1. The Federalists in Charge Chapter 9, Section 3

2. George Washington • First President of the United States • Served from 1789 – 1797 • 1796, Washington decides to leave the U.S. Presidency after two terms • Establishes a precedent for Presidential term limits

3. George Washington • Farewell Address • “Let me now…warn you…against the [harmful] effects of the spirit of party…This spirit, unfortunately, exists in different shapes in all governments…but in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst.” • “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is…to have with them as little political connection as possible…Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course…we may take such an attitude as…neutrality…[and] steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

4. Political Parties • Political party  group of people that tries to promote its ideas and influence government • Typically back candidates for political office • The nation’s first political parties resulted over disagreements on foreign and domestic policy. • Political parties started to come to prominence during Washington's first term in office

5. Political Parties

6. Political Parties • Presidential Election of 1976 • First election in which political parties competed • Two candidates • Federalist candidate  John Adams • Leader during the American Revolution and the Continental Congress • Diplomat in France, Netherlands and Britain prior to serving with Washington • Served as Vice President during George Washington’s Presidency • Democratic-Republican candidate  Thomas Jefferson • Farmer, diplomat and principal author of the Declaration of Independence • Served as Secretary of State during George Washington’s Presidency

7. 1976 President Election • Electoral college • Adam received 71 electoral votes • Jefferson received 68 votes • The Constitution stated the runner-up should become vice president • Adams became the 2nd President of the U.S. in 1797 • Jefferson sworn in as Adams’ Vice President

8. Problems with France • 1797, Britain and France still at war • French began to seizing U.S. ships to prevent them from trading with the British • Adams wanted to avoid war with France and hoped peace talks would be effective • Sent: Charles Pinckney, Elbridge Gerry and John Marshall

9. XYZ Affair • U.S. Delegates waited for weeks in Paris to have a meeting with the French minister of foreign affairs • At one point, three French agents – referred to as X, Y, and Z – took the delegation aside and informed them that the minister was willing to talk • However, the talks would only occur if the Americans agreed to loan France $10 million and to pay the minister a bride of $250,000. • The American delegation refused • XYZ Affair prompted Congress to cancel its treaties with France and allow U.S. Ships to seize French vessels

10. Alien and Sedition Acts • Many Democratic-Republicans were sympathetic of France and considered Adams response to France to be tyrannical • One Democratic –Republican newspaper called Adams ‘the blasted tyrant of America’ • Adams was angered by the criticism – he blamed the Democratic-Republican newspapers and new immigrants • Pushed the Federalist Congress to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1978.

11. Alien and Sedition Acts • Passed in 1798, the Alien and Sedition acts were a series of four laws that were mean to reduce the political power of recent immigrants to the United States. • Naturalization Act – increased the waiting period for becoming a U.S. citizen from 5 to 14 years • Alien Act – gave authorization to the President to deport aliens “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States” during peacetime • Alien Enemies Act – during wartime, allowed the arrest, imprisonment and deportation of any alien subject • Sedition Act – outlawed sedition, saying and writing anything false or harmful about the government

12. Alien and Sedition Acts • The acts allowed Federalists to clamp down on the freedom of speech and the press • About 25 Democratic-Republican newspaper editors were charged and arrest under the Sedition Act • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • Written by the Democratic-Republicans in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts • Declared that the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the Constitution • Found in the theory known as states’ right • Kentucky Resolution • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Proposed nullification • Virginia Resolution • Written by James Madison • Stated that a state could interpose, or place, itself between the federal government and its citizens • No other states supported the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions

13. Peace with France • Convention of 1800, Adams reopened peace talks with France • Signed an agreement to stop naval attacks • Adam’s actions made him enemies among the Federalist • Adam’s lost the president election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson