John Adams

Birth-Death: (1735 - 1826 ) Term: (1797-1801 )

The nation was at a turning point when Adams came to his presidency. Not only was there the threat of internal strife between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, but there was a growing public pressure for war with France. Adams did not allow the war cries or states advocates to influence what he thought was best for the survival of the United States. This ultimately cost him the next election.

Major Events with John Adams

1796 - Election of 1796:

    This election showed off one of the flaws of the constitution. The framers of the constitution did not foresee the formation of political parties. Therefore, when people voted, they did not vote for a president/vice-president ticket, rather they voted for one person as president, and another for vice-president. When the votes were tallied, the winner became president and the runner-up the vice-president. This system however, allowed for someone balloting for the vice-presidential position to win the presidency or for president of one party have a vice-president from the opposite party.

    The candidates were nominated by a caucus system. The Federalists nominated John Adams for Presidency and Thomas Pinckney for vice-president. The Anti-Federalists (Democratic-Republicans) nominated Thomas Jefferson for president, and after many debates, Aaron Burr for vice-president. As the leader of the Federalist Party, Hamilton did not approve of Adams, and he decided to sneak in Pinckney as president. He told the Republicans to vote for Pinckney for vice president. In the end, Hamilton's plan almost worked. John Adams received 71 Electoral Votes, Thomas Jefferson - 68 and Pinckney came in a close third with 59. In the end, Adams was the president, and Jefferson (the leader of the opposing party) the vice-president.

1797 - XYZ Affair

    In 1789 a revolution swept through France. The French, following the example set by the United States only a few years earlier, overthrew the monarchy and established their own government. However, unlike the United States', the revolution took a more violent course, thousands were guillotined. When some order was reestablished with the beginning of the Directory in 1797, the French looked towards the United States for financial and moral support. After the French realized that the US has broken the treaty of 1778 and established peace with Great Britain without their consent, a violent uprising swept thorough the nation. "American" became a dirty word, and French sailors began attacking American ships on the high seas.

    President Adams sent three diplomats: Charles C. Pinckney, Elbridge G. Gerry and John Marshall to come to terms with France and establish peace. However, when the three commissioners arrived, they were met by three French officials who states that before official talks could begin a bribe of $240,000 must be paid to France. Marshall refused to make any concessions and the three men returned to the US. When the president reported the story to Congress on March 19th 1798, the French officials were referred to as X, Y and Z. As the news was reported, a wave of nationalism spread through the nation. "Millions for Defense, but not a cent for Tribute!!!" proclaimed the newspapers.

    The United States prepared for a war. Although the French were expected to declare war, Talleyrand, the French minister of defense pretended that the XYZ affair was just a misunderstanding, the talks reopened and a peace treaty was signed by September of 1800.

1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts

    The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 to stop the governmental criticism that erupted due to Adams' actions in the XYZ affair and to allow the government to operate without any outside disturbances. All of the acts were set to expire three years later, in 1801. None of the Acts were continued past 1801.

    The Naturalization Act passed on June 18th, 1798. It stated that aliens must live in the United States for fourteen years before they could apply for citizenship. The previous requirement was five years. In 1801, the time of residency was restored back to five years.

    The Alien Act passed a week later on June 25th, 1798. It gave the president the power to deport or imprison all aliens considered dangerous or suspected to be involved in treason.

    The Sedition Act ratified on July 14th, 1798. This was the most controversial of the acts. It established a fine of not more than $2,000 and possible imprisonment for publishing any "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" about the Government of the United States.

1798 - Kentucky and Virginia Resolves

    The Alien and Sedition Acts sparked a massive debate about the power of the government to pass these kinds of acts. Thomas Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists argued that the Federal Government had exceeded its power. The states, they said, made a contract with each other, known as the Constitution. The Constitution set up a government, and gave it definite powers, and reserved to each state all other rights and powers. Whenever the government assumed powers not given to it by the Constitution, its acts are unauthoritative, null, void, and carried no force.

    These resolutions were the first formal statements of the doctrine of states' rights. A more heated debate would evolve about government's regulation of slavery in the 1820s.