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The Adams Administration, 1797-1801

The Adams Administration, 1797-1801. Dr. Greg O’Brien Department of History University of Southern Mississippi. Election of 1796. Attempted to steer a moderate course. * Kept Washington’s cabinet officers largely intact Hamilton pulling the strings Had retired to NY law office in 1795

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The Adams Administration, 1797-1801

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  1. The Adams Administration, 1797-1801 Dr. Greg O’Brien Department of History University of Southern Mississippi

  2. Election of 1796

  3. Attempted to steer a moderate course * Kept Washington’s cabinet officers largely intact • Hamilton pulling the strings • Had retired to NY law office in 1795 • Supported Thomas Pinckney over Adams but Pinckney finished third (Jefferson second = VP) • Continued to direct Federalist political affairs Adams

  4. Foreign Affairs Dominate • War continues between France & Britain • XYZ Affair in France, 1797 • French seizure of hundreds of American ships • Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry sent to France to negotiate • French officials insist on a bribe • Adams referred to the French officials as “X,Y,Z” • Marshall and Pinckney go home • America insulted

  5. Quasi-War with France, 1798-1800 • U.S. and French merchant and warships fire on each other in Caribbean and off Atlantic coast • No official declaration of war • Adams increases navy and army • Federalist Congress cut off trade with France and authorized seizure of French ships • Congress passed national tax on land and houses for war • Hamilton almost becomes top military leader • Hamilton sought continuation and spread of the war • Sought military and autocratic rule • Adams sends new diplomatic mission to France – prevents war • Treaty of Mortefontaine, 1800

  6. Domestic Uproar • Adams criticized severely by Jeffersonian Republicans • Newspapers attack • Adams and Federalist Congress respond with oppressive legislation • Attempt to silence critics in name of national security

  7. Alien & Sedition Acts, 1798 • Naturalization Act • 14 years before alien can become a U.S. citizen • Alien Friends Act • President can deport any alien deemed dangerous to “peace and safety” • Alien Enemies Act • Deportation of any alien from a nation at war with the U.S. • Sedition Act • Crime to make statements intended to defame or bring the president, Congress, or government into contempt or disrepute

  8. Virginia responds • Madison & Jefferson appalled at Federalist Congress’s actions • Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions, 1798-99 • Declared Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional • Argued that states had right to nullify federal legislation that was deemed unconstitutional • States had not delegated power to punish libel to the federal government, and free government rested on the people's free opinions

  9. Election of 1800 • Bitter contest fought out in the media • Public opinion had turned against Federalists • Jefferson and Burr tie • Both Republicans • House of Reps chooses Jefferson after 35 ballots • “Revolution of 1800” • Jefferson pardons all those arrested under Sedition Act Campaign poster from 1804 election

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