The Presidency of John Adams

 

Won a close victory over Thomas Jefferson which made Jefferson Vice-President

 

French hostility towards America due to:

     Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality

     Jay’s Treaty

 

French begin seizing ships and impressing sailors

 

Adams sent negotiators to France and were met by agents demanding a bribe

 

Adams referred to the agents as X,Y, and Z

 

An undeclared naval war took place from 1798 to 1800

 

A 2nd peace mission in 1800 ended the “war”

 

Alien and Sedition Acts: to protect U.S. from

     “alien agitators” and to weaken the D-R

     party

     Naturalization Act: increased

           naturalization period from 5 to 14

           years

     Alien Act: gave president authority to

           deport any aline considered

           “dangerous”

     Sedition Act: fines/jail for those who utter

           “false, scandalous, and malicious”

           statements about the government

 

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions:

     in response to the Alien/Sedition Act:

    

     presented the “state’s rights” view:

           federal govt. was created by and for

                the benefit of the states

           legislatures of states could declare

                federal laws unConstitutional and

                therefore null and void