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John Adams. Is it OK to ignore authority? Why?. Adams’ Life. Born and raised in MA, Married to Abigail a childhood sweet heart, Attended 1 st public school in Boston, His cousin Samuel Adams started the letters of correspondence and complaints that started the Revolution
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John Adams Is it OK to ignore authority? Why?
Adams’ Life • Born and raised in MA, Married to Abigail a childhood sweet heart, Attended 1st public school in Boston, His cousin Samuel Adams started the letters of correspondence and complaints that started the Revolution • John was defense lawyer for British Soldiers in Boston Massacre, all but three got off without penalty, two received 4 month prison sentences , one sent to England to be decommissioned • Helped write Declaration of Independence, delegate to Constitutional Convention, Ambassador to France and England, helped negotiate Treaty of Paris to end Revolution, George Washington selected him to be 1st VP, 2 terms, 1st President in White House, moved from Philadelphia to DC
XYZ Affair • Inherited a dispute with France, French looked a Jay’s treaty w/ Eng. In 1974 as a way to help the British in War w/ France, to punish USA seized American ships carrying cargo to England • Adams wanted to avoid war, 1797 sent delegation to France to resolve the issue, French Foreign minister Charles de Talleyrand, refused to meet with the delegates, sent agents to demand a bribe and a loan for France from Americans,” not a sixpence” was the American reply • Adams furious, urged Congress to prepare for war, called French agents X,Y,Z and known as the Xyz affair, Congress strengthened forces, est. Navy in 1798, money for warships, Washington recalled as Gen. to army • 1798-1800 French and America clashed at sea, 9/1800 agreement made for peace, France the new enemy in most Americans minds Dem.-Rep. hesitated in condemning France, 1798 elections Dem.-Rep. Voted out of Congress
Alien And Sedition Acts • Americans suspicious of aliens,& immigrants, many came from France and supported the French Revolution, ?’d if loyal in war w/ France, 1798 Congress passed a series of laws called the alien and sedition acts • Fear of a strong Central Gov’t abusing power coming true, Dem.-Rep. looked to states to save liberties, Jefferson & Madison drafted protests that passed in VA and KY, saying states could nullify fed laws they considered unconstitutional, promoted states rights • As 1800 approached Fed. Hurting, Adams refused to go to war, appointed commission to seek peace, 1800 French agreed to stop attacking American ships, hurt Adams reelection, Federalists split, cleared the way for Jefferson and Dem.-Rep . To win in 1800