The Presidency of John Adams

1
The Presidency of John Adams
The XYZ Affair Hurts John Adams Presidency
2
Troubles With France

• The French are upset over Jays Treaty and
  continue to attack American ships
• Adams tries to solve the problem by sending three
  diplomats to negotiate with Frances new
  government

John Adams, 2nd President of the United States
3
The XYZ Affair

• When the American diplomats arrived in France, 3
  French agents demanded a bribe from the Americans
  in order to meet
• The event became a sensation to the American
  public
• The French agents were kept secret and were
  referred to as Agents X, Y, and Z, hence XYZ
  Affair

4
War Fever!

• Many Americans demanded war on France after being
  embarrassed
• Adams kept his cool and settled the problem
  through further negotiations with Frances new
  dictator Napoleon Bonaparte
• However, his own political party, the
  Federalists, were furious with him

Napoleon Bonaparte, Frances New Dictator
5
Alien and Sedition Acts

• War fever made federalists and Jon Adams fear a
  revolution in the U.S, this led to a mistrust of
  immigrants
• Federalists and Adams also sought to destroy
  their Republican opponents
• Federalists in Congress, along with the support
  of John Adams, passed the Alien and Sedition
  Acts
• Alien Act - An immigrant had to live in U.S for
  14 years to become a citizen (was previously 5)
• Sedition Act - It became a crime to write
  anything insulting or false about the government

6
Republicans React

• Republicans (led by Jefferson) encouraged state
  legislatures to nullify the Alien and Sedition
  Acts
• Two states did Virginia and Kentucky
• These two resolutions had the long term effect of
  promoting states rights and allowing states to
  challenge the federal government (a major cause
  of the Civil War)