Warm-up #2

1. Warm-up #2 • Write a paragraph addressing the life and presidency of John Adams.

2. Brainpop • Watch the video on John Adams. Use the information you learned to help you complete the video quiz.

3. XYZ Affair + Alien and Sedition Acts How did Adams’ presidency challenge ideas of freedom of expression and other rights?

4. I. XYZ Affair • A. • As soon as Adams became president, he wanted to fix relations between the US and France • Relations had been damaged because the US did not help them fight the British and the French were interfering with our merchant ships. • Adams sent US diplomats to Paris to smooth things out and negotiate a treaty to protect US shipping

5. B. The Drama • When the diplomats arrived, three French agents told them that the foreign minister (Talleyrand) would only talk with them if he was paid a $250,000 bribe and France was given a $12 million loan • American Diplomats said no • March 1798—Adams told Congress what happened, substituting X, Y, and Z for the names of the French agents

6. Questions to think about: • What happened when the diplomats got to France? • Three agents tried to bribe the diplomats into meeting Talleyrand • What did the diplomats do? • Refused to pay the bribe • What did Adams do next? • Tell Congress what happened

7. C. War… or not? • Federalists in Congress wanted war with France. Demo-reps want to avoid war. • Though Federalists wanted war, Adams eventually made peace with France through diplomacy. • Loss of Adams’ popularity and discrimination against French people living in the USA.

8. British Political Cartoon about XYZ

9. II. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Democratic-Republicans continued to support France, and this annoyed Federalists • 1798—Congress passed four laws—known as the Alien and Sedition Acts • One law made it hard for aliens to become citizens • One law prohibited criticism of the fed gov’t • Designed to crush opposition to war • Americans, especially Democratic-Republicans, were outraged • They said this violated their First Amendment rights

10. Questions to think about: • What did the Alien and Sedition Acts do? • Made it harder to become a citizen, made criticism of the gov’t illegal • Why were they passed? • Silence opposition (mostly Dem-Repub) to war

11. III. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • In response, Jefferson and Madison wrote the VA and KY Resolutions • Said Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional; therefore states did not have to obey the law • These resolutions weren’t powerful, but supported the idea that states could challenge the federal government • The Alien and Sedition Acts expired by 1802