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John Adams and the Election of 1796

John Adams and the Election of 1796. JOHN ADAMS. Born in Massachusetts 1 st President to live in the White House Father of the American Navy Wife=Abigail Serves one term. Election of 1796. By 1796, Americans were divided

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John Adams and the Election of 1796

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  1. John Adams and the Election of 1796

  2. JOHN ADAMS • Born in Massachusetts • 1st President to live in the White House • Father of the American Navy • Wife=Abigail • Serves one term

  3. Election of 1796 • By 1796, Americans were divided • Candidates sought office for the first time as a member of a political party • Feds and Repubs held meetings (caucuses) where they chose their leader • Feds nominated John Adams • Republicans nominated T. Jefferson

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

  5. PRESIDENCY • Adams elected President by 3 votes over Jefferson • 71 to 68 • Only time Pres/VP will be from diff political parties

  6. XYZ Affair • Cause of the Problem • French thought Jay’s Treaty was our attempt to help Britain win the war against France • France began seizing U.S. ships (“Quasi-War”)

  7. XYZ Affair • American Solution • Adams wanted to avoid war—sent 3 men (Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry) to Paris to solve the crisis

  8. XYZ Affair • French Monkey Wrench • French foreign minister, Charles de Talleyrand, refused to meet with the Americans • He sent 3 agents (“X-Y-Z”) who demanded a bribe and a loan from the U.S.

  9. XYZ Affair • American Reaction • Adams was furious and Congress prepared for war (“war fever” spreads) • Dept of Navy created and larger army • Many Republicans lost their Congressional seats • Why is Adams looking to avoid war?

  10. The Spark • A “quasi-war” with France • Made American suspicious of foreigners who supported the French

  11. ALIEN + SEDITION • Naturalization Act • 14 year resident before becoming a citizen • Alien Act • Allowed President to imprison aliens, or send those he considered dangerous out of the country • Sedition Act • Made it a crime to speak, write or publish “false, scandalous and malicious” criticisms of the govt

  12. Why were they passed? • Idea was to protect national security • Feds were hoping they would weaken the Republican Party

  13. ALIEN + SEDITION: Results • Discouraged immigration and led some foreigners to leave the country • Convicted 10 Republican newspaper editors who had criticized the Federalists in government • Opposition to Federalist Party grows

  14. REACTION • Opposition to Federalist Party grew • Led to a movement to allow states to overturn federal laws

  15. VA and KY Resolutions • Organized by D-R • Jefferson (KY) and Madison (VA) • Claimed that Acts were unconstitutional • KY Resolution said that states could NULLIFY federal laws considered unconstitutional • Each state is independent and had a right to not obey a law • Federalists criticized these Resolutions as a step toward the breakup of the Union

  16. Peace with France • In the 1798 Congressional elections, Reps were voted out of office for supporting France • By 1800, Adams sends another peace commission to France • His cabinet disagrees • Treaty of Mortefontaine • Ends undeclared naval warfare • News does not reach U.S. until after election

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