American Politics in the 1790’s

1. American Politics in the 1790’s Federalists Versus Democratic-Republicans

2. Who were the leaders? What were the issues? Growth of Political Parties

3. THE ELECTION OF 1796 Vice President John Adams (left) against former Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (right), former friends now turned bitter political enemies.

4. 1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union)

5. 1796 Election Results

6. JOHN ADAMS • stubborn, insecure, but high-minded • Protect American interests but pro-British • How do you follow George Washington?

7. JOHN ADAMS • Presidential Issues • XYZ Affair • Quasi-War against France • Alien and Sedition Acts • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions • What do you do when your Vice-President is working against you?

8. War between France and England • Adams supported British (Federalist stance) • Jefferson supported French (Democratic-Republican stance)

9. XYZ Affair • American diplomats in Paris to negotiate • John Marshall • Elbridge Gerry • Charles Cotesworth Pinckney • 3 unnamed French agents (X, Y, and Z) solicited bribes from Americans • Had to pay to see French diplomats

10. XYZ Affair

11. XYZ AffairA British cartoon shows the United States (the young lady in the feathered Indian headdress) being accosted by impertinent and avaricious diplomats representing Revolutionary France.

12. Results of the XYZ Affair • Congress (controlled by Federalists) • Cut off trade w/France • Used privateers to attack French ships • Unofficial allies with British • Waged undeclared war with French • Need to strengthen defense

13. Beginnings of the U.S. Navy • Navy Act of 1794 • 6 frigates built (Mediterranean) • Navy (part of Department of War) • Large 44-gun frigates planned. • More heavily armed and faster • Marines deployed on ships • Tradition of British • Protect Captain and officers from crew • Provide musket fire

14. Quasi-War on The High Seas

15. Operations of the Quasi-War • Main theater: West Indies • U.S. vs. French • U.S. uses British ports • Most of French fleet blockaded in Europe • U.S. naval funding increased in 1799 • Shipbuilding increases size of Navy

16. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Used by Adams/Federalists to retaliate against Jefferson/Republicans • Satiric portrayal: first fight in Congress: Matthew Lyon and Roger Griswold • Lyon later prosecuted under Sedition Act

17. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Alien Acts June, 1798 • Naturalization Act = longer residence for citizenship • 5 years to 14 • president has power to expel/incarcerate foreigners (anti-French) • Sedition Act July, 1798 • crime to publish criticisms of government (anti-Dem.-Rep.) • Allowed arrest and/or imprisonment of anti-Federalist publishers

18. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Constitutional or Unconstitutional? • Could Dem.-Reps. Challenge in the courts? • No concept of judicial review yet • Most federal judges were Federalist

19. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798 • Jefferson and Madison: Sedition Act violates 1stAmendment • States can nullify federal law if unconstitutional • Jumpstarts Jefferson’s bid for president

20. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions,1798 • Kentucky • “unauthoritative, void, and of no force” • Virginia • States have right to refuse to enforce unconstitutional federal laws

21. THE ELECTION OF 1800John Adams (left) and Thomas Jefferson (right) squared off for the presidency for a second time in 1800. It was the first and only instance in American history when a sitting President and Vice President ran against each other.

22. John Adams Thomas Jefferson • Federalist party • Ended quasi-war • Jefferson: a pro-French radical • Democratic-Republican (Republican) party • Critical of Adams for • Alien and Sedition Acts • Increased taxes for undeclared war Candidates did not campaign! Election of 1800

23. BRANDING JEFFERSON AS A DANGEROUS RADICALA Federalist cartoon depicts Thomas Jefferson was an enemy of religion, lawful government, and the Constitution, who wanted to import a French-style revolution and reign of terror to America.

24. FEDERALIST ATTACKS GET PERSONALThis anti-Jefferson cartoon highlights the rumors that the Virginia politician kept a black mistress (Sally Hemmings, his slave and also his wife’s half-sister)

25. THE CAPITAL MOVES SOUTHJohn and Abigail Adams become the first occupants of the “executive mansion” in 1800

26. 1800 Election Results (16 states in the Union)

27. 1800 Election Results • Tie – Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr . . . • House of Representatives decides • Each state gets one vote • candidate with majority became president • House voted 35 times without a winner • Alexander Hamilton convinces states to support Jefferson

28. 1800 Final Election Results After 36 Ballots (In the House of Representatives!!) 1 vote for each State  Thomas Jefferson becomes President Aaron Burr becomes Vice-President

29. 1800 Election Results • Why would Hamilton (who hates Jefferson) support him? • Democratic-Republicans take control of both House and Senate • 1796 • Federalists have both houses and the presidency • 1800 • Republicans have both houses and the presidency • Adams doesn’t stay for Jefferson’s inauguration

30. 1800 Election Results

31. The “Revolution” of 1800? • New Republic • Weathered international storms • French Revolution • Napoleonic Wars • new spirit of nationalism • Party system • legitimate dissent (“the loyal opposition”) • Established pattern for diffusing/limiting political unrest • Precedent of peaceful transfer of power from one party to another • Did we pass the first, big Constitutional test?

32. The Twelfth Amendment • Electors cast one vote instead of two • President/vice-president on same ticket • President/vice-president cannot be from same state