JOHN ADAMS

Presidential Term

VICE PRECEDENCY

Adams served two terms as vice-president to George Washington. Adams lost to George Washington in his campaign for re-election. Being the obvious choice for second-incommand he was chosen for vice-precedency . Felt that the vice-precedency was the most insignificant office that ever the Invention of man contrived or his Imagination conceived.

VICE-PRECEDENCY

His main duty was to preside over Senate and to vote to break ties when necessary. In his term he cast between 31 and 38 such votes. Supported all major initiatives proposed by the Washington administration. This included: Alexander Hamiltons financial plan The Neutrality Proclamation (1793) that ended the Franco-American alliance of 1778 The suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion Jay Treaty When Washington decided to not seek reelection for a third term, Adams was the next in line.

PRESDENTIAL ELECTION 1796

Running against Thomas Jefferson, Adams won a narrow victory in the 1796 election, winning 71-68 electoral majority. Jefferson was consequently made vicepresident, but turned down the offer to be in Adams cabinet. Adams faced many difficulties coming into office including: The inheritance of Washingtons cabinet whose loyalty was primarily to Hamilton. Naval conflict in the Caribbean with the French. Also, replacing the hero of the Revolutionary War was not an easy task.

QUASI-WAR

The conflict in the Caribbean caused a political rift between the Federalist and Democratic-Republicans Federalists would rather have war with France than alienate the British. Democratic-Republicans viewed France as Americas only true European ally. Adams was forced to try and stay impartial to either party, but that left him in a position to be attacked by both partisan camps. Adams sent a peace delegation to Paris in 1797 to negotiate an end of hostilities in the Caribbean.

XYZ AFFAIR

John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry were sent to join C.C. Pickney, the ambassador to France, in Paris. French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand impeded the American diplomacy mission for weeks. He sent agents, who the Americans would refer to as X, Y, and Z in correspondence, to demand a bribe. Basically the French wanted a bribe of a $12 million loan to begin negotiations.

QUASI WAR

The delegates were ordered home and Adams started a naval buildup to prepare for outright war with the French. Federalists called for a 30,000 man army and Adams reluctantly agreed. Adams could have declared war in 1798 and gained widespread popularity Instead he chose to send another peace delegation to France. This time it was successful, but the move ruined Adams politically. He prevented a costly war that America was not fit to fight at the time no matter how unpopular the move.

ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS

Part of two acts they were signed to restore domestic tranquility and preserve the Union, the Acts were pushed through Congress by the Federalist Party in 1798. The goal of the legislation was to tighten control over immigrants as well as those who criticized the government. It permitted the deportation of foreign-born residents and the indictment of newspaper editors or writers who published criticism against the government.

ALIEN ENEMIES ACT

Specifically the act allowed wartime arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of any alien subject to an enemy power. a removal of such alien out of the territory of the United States, is quoted in the actual act, referring to immigrants or aliens who had been convicted of being a danger of the public peace or safety. The Alien Act was for the expulsion of aliens considered dangerous during peacetime The Alien Enemies was for the further expulsion of imprisonment of aliens during wartime and while never enforced it caused many immigrants to leave the country.

EXCERPT FROM ALIEN ENEMIES ACT

An Act concerning Aliens. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continnuance of this act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof, to depart out of the territory of the United States, within such time as shall be expressed in such order, which order shall be served on such alien by delivering him a copy thereof, or leaving the same at his usual abode, and returned to the office of the Secretary of State, by the marshal or other person to whom the same shall be directed.

THE SEDITION ACT

Described as An act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, the Sedition Act The Act declared any treasonable activity as well as any false, scandalous and malicious writing, as punishable by imprisonment. 25 Republican newspaper writers were actually arrested under enforcement of this law and were forced to shut down. One of whom was actually Benjamin Franklins grandson. Americans questioned the constitutionality of the laws and public outcry over their enforcement followed.

ADAMS PARTICIPATION AND RESPONCE

Adams played no part in the forming of the acts and also took no steps to enforce them, however he was held responsible for the unpopular measures. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison created the Republican Partys opposition to the Acts using the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. Outlined states rights and compact theory of the Constitution. Adams went along with measures taken following the passing of the law, such as the arrests of the newspaper editors, but for the most part not much action was taken in respect to enforcing the Acts.

JOHN ADAMS VERSUS THE DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

After riding the Federalist vote in 1796, there was there was obvious disparity between him as president and the Democratic-Republicans or Republicans. During Adams tenure as president there were crises in foreign policy that affected domestic affairs that Republicans criticized him for, such as the opposition to France. The passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts by Federalists and Adams were directed toward immigrants who primarily became Republicans so the Acts were seen as an attack to the party. It was after all the Republicans who responded with the Kentucky and Virginia Resolution, which went directly against Adams and federal authority over states.

EXCERPT FOUNDATION OF GOVERNMENT LETTER

The foundation of every government is some principle or passion in the minds of the people. The noblest principles and most generous affections in our nature, then, have the fairest chance to support the noblest and most generous models of government. . . . That, as a republic is the best of governments, so that particular arrangement of the powers of society, or, in other words, that form of government which is best contrived to secure an impartial and exact execution of the laws, is the best of republics.
Of republics there is an inexhaustible variety, because the possible combinations of the powers of society are capable of innumerable variations.

JOHN ADAMS VERSUS THE DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS

Another disparity was over the heavy taxation necessary for the military buildup that Adams started as a result of the Quasi War. Even in his own party Adams lost popularity due to his conflicts with Hamilton over the undeclared naval war with France. Hamilton would of course go on to campaign against Adams in the 1800 election and further hurt his chances for reelection. One of the biggest reasons Jefferson won was that he was fully backed by a united and organized Republican Party, while the Federalists were disagreeing.

END OF PRESIDENCY

Adams was the first president to move into the newly built White House on November 1, 1800 just before the 1800 elections. (This was the same White House set ablaze by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812.) Originally called the Executive Mansion the White House would come to house all presidents from Adams on. He is famously known as saying in the White House "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."

1800 ELECTION

Adams had lost almost all of his public favor due to the combination of not declaring war with France and the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts. He ran against Thomas Jefferson and his running mates Aaron Burr and George Clinton. Hamilton played a large part in trying to push Adams out of office after their numerous disagreements throughout Adams presidency. Hamilton was a Federalist, but still held a grudge from the undeclared war with the French and never forgave Adams. Jefferson enjoyed full backing from the Republican Party while the Federalists were on the fence with Adams thanks to Hamilton.

END OF PRESIDENCY

When Jefferson and the Republican Party were victorious in the 1800 election Adams truly believed that it would spell trouble for the United States and that the party would unravel what the founding fathers had established. His Republican views objected to the the Republican ideal for state rights and Adams thought that an increase in state rights would hinder the nation. An important occurrence near the end of his presidency was the Judiciary Act passed by Congress that increased the number of judges in federal courts to 16.

ADAMS AND JUDICIARY ACT

Led by a Federalist majority in Congress the Judiciary Act gave Adams an opportunity to appoint some final Federalists. Adams actually worked up to the late evening in his final day in office signing the commissions of new judges. The most notable appointment was that of John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Jefferson, the President-Elect considered Adams Midnight Appointments, as the act of a sore loser.

JEFFERSON/ADAMS CONFLICT

The two founding fathers saw their once close friendship decay over the years to the point where Adams chose not to attend Jeffersons inauguration. Instead Adams returned to his estate in Quincy, Mass. on March 4, 1801. It is thought that Adams came to regret the falling out he had with his old friend, but Adams felt he had done what was best for the nation. With recommendation from Dr. Benjamin Rush the two started a correspondence of letters after 1812 where they shared their views for the future of America. The two actually died on the same day July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence and Adams last words were Thomas Jefferson still survives, ironically he had died only a few hours earlier. (Very eerie)

ADAMS PRESIDENCY IN REVIEW

John Adams is not a name particularly remembered amongst the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but he was arguably more passionate in his tenure as President. The decisions that made him lose his popularity were actually made with the well-being of America in mind and Adams did not sacrifice his own beliefs to garner popularity for reelection. While Adams is credited historically with the Alien and Sedition Acts, he did not personally advocate their passage or personally implement them and he actually pardoned the instigators of the Friess Rebellion against who were moving against the Acts.

ADAMS PRESIDENCY IN REVIEW

Adamss legacy can be characterized with being one of reason, compassion, moral leadership, and one where he did not back down on his foreign policy. Adams was in fact stubborn and that caused the disparity with his political party and left him isolated at the end of his political career. His elite republicanism would also be replaced in history by Jeffersonian democracy so while Adams did make his mark during his tenure his political views are not echoed much after Jeffersons term.

VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqAt8A0W204

REVIEW QUESTIONS
What was unique about Adams cabinet when coming into office? Why did Adams lose so much favor by not declaring war with France? What would have likely been the outcome of war with France at the time? Were the Alien and Sedition Acts necessary to combat the threat of war with France? What could have been an alternative purpose behind the Acts?

REVIEW QUESTIONS
Does it seem as if Adams was a full-fledged Federalist or was slightly reluctant in his association with the party? What did Adams do with the Midnight Appointments that undercut the Democratic-Republicans? What was the main point of argument between Jefferson and Adams? Did Adams bend to the will of the public during his presidency? In the end were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson able to overcome their polar opposite political associations?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Alien and Sedition Acts." United States American History. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
The Alien Enemies Act, 1-3 (1798). Print. "American President: John Adams: A Life in Brief." Miller Center. University of Viriginia. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. Ellis, Joseph J. "John Adams Biography - Facts, Birthday, Life Story -

Biography.com." Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com. Encyclopdia

Britannica, Inc. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Excerpt Alien Enemies Act Text Lerex American Laws and Acts Library
Excerpt Foundation of Government Chicago Historical Society University of Chicago Web 17 Oct. 2011

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"John Adams Biography Page 2." National Historical Park. Nps.gov. Web.
Library Company of Philadelphia, comp. "The Providential Detection." Cartoon. Sanity Sentinel Blogspot. 31 Aug. 2010. Web. "Too Drastic Sedition Legislation." Cartoon. Mr.Beam's Website. Web. "XYZ Affair." United States American History. US History Pages. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.