9.4The Second President
Guiding Questions………..
How did John Adams handle the conflict with France?
Why did the Federalist party split?
Guiding Questions………..
How did the Alien and Sedition acts raise the issue of the rights of states?
What role did Congress play in the election of 1800?
John Adams Conflict with France
John Adam & FranceFrance objected to Jay’s Treaty. The French said it favored Britain.
French ships began to seize American ships.
Adams sent diplomats to Paris to discuss the rights of neutral nations.
John Adams & France
The French foreign minister sent three agents to offer the Americans a deal. The agents asked for a $250,000 bribe and a $10 million loan to France before they would talk.
John Adams & France
Adams told Congress. Because he called the French agents X, Y, and Z, the incident became known as the XYZ Affair.
XYZ AFFAIR
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John Adams & France
The country would not pay the bribe, but Adams refused to ask Congress to declare war on France.
Instead, Adams strengthened the navy by building frigates, fast-sailing ships with many guns.
Federalist Party Splits
Federalists Party Split
Hamilton and his Federalist supporters wanted a war with France.
War with France would weaken the Republican party.
Federalist Party Split
War would force the United States to build up its military forces. This would increase federal power.
Federalist Party Split
Adams and his Federalist supporters wanted to avoid war with France.
Adams wanted to keep the country out of European affairs.
Federalist Party Split
He sent American diplomats to France. The new French leader agreed to stop seizing American ships.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
During the crisis with France, Federalists passed the Alien and Sedition acts.
Alien Act
The President could expel any alien thought to be dangerous to the country.
The number of years immigrants had to wait to become citizens was raised from 5 to 14.
Sedition ActSedition means stirring up rebellion against a government. Under this law, citizens could be fined or jailed for criticizing the government or its officials.
What about freedom of speech??
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The Alien and Sedition Acts and
States’ Rights
Republicans opposed the Alien and Sedition acts.
Jefferson argued that states had the right to nullify, or cancel, a law passed by the federal government.
The Alien and Sedition Acts and
States’ Rights
Kentucky and Virginia passed resolutions supporting Jefferson’s view.
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
These resolutions claimed that each state “has an equal right to judge for itself” whether a law is constitutional.
If a state decides a law is unconstitutional, the state can nullify that law within its borders.
Kentucky and Virginia resolutions
These resolutions raised the issue of states’ rights. Does the federal government have only those powers listed in the Constitution? If so, the states possess all other powers.
Congress and the Election of 1800
Republicans backed Thomas Jefferson for President and Aaron Burr for Vice President. Federalists supported John Adams.
Republicans won the popular vote.
Congress and the Election of 1800
In the electoral college, Jefferson and Burr each received 73 votes.
The election went to the House of Representatives to decide.
Congress and the Election of 1800
After four days and 36 votes, the House chose Jefferson as President and Burr as Vice President.
Federalists angered the Republicans when they passed the Alien and Sedition acts, which said thata) American diplomats could not pay bribes to foreign agents.
b) foreigners could never become citizens.
c) under certain circumstances, citizens could rebel against the government.
d) citizens could be jailed for criticizing the government or its officials.
The issue of states’ rights raises questions abouta) whether the federal government should have a strong military force.
b) the President’s power to expel aliens.
c) whether Kentucky and Virginia had the right to pass resolutions.
d) which powers belong to the federal government and which belong to the states.