Washington, Adams and Jefferson

Focus Question: How did foreign policy challenges and political debate shape American government?

Washington’s Farewell  1796  Washington sets an example for future presidents o Will serve only 2 terms o  Washington’s accomplishments o o Western frontier opened to settlement o o Has kept the U.S. out of a European war o o Has paid down much of the national debt  Warning in his Farewell Address o Avoid “entangling alliances” with other nations that could drag us into war o

Note: Many believe that if it were not for Washington, America would have failed

Election of 1796  John Adams (Massachusetts) o Federalist o  Thomas Jefferson (Virginia) o Democratic Republican o  Adams becomes 2nd President o Jefferson will become Vice-President

The John Adams  Administration o Washington D.C. . First 2 temporary Capitals    Difficult situation for Adams o 2nd President following a beloved president George Washington o . Has few friends and many enemies o o The French and Jefferson are angry about The Jay Treaty . French begin seizing American ships

The XYZ Affair  Adams sends representatives to France o o Americans are bribed by French Secret Agents . .

o Adams infuriated . . . Congress authorizes building a Navy  o Both sides firing upon each other and seizing each other’s ships

Alien and Sedition  1798 Acts  Adams takes advantage of the people’s support  Tries to silence the Democratic Republicans o Alien Act .

o Sedition Act .

The Virginia &  Tensions increase between Federalists and Democratic Kentucky Resolutions Republicans due to the Alien and Sedition Acts  Virginia and Kentucky feel the Alien & Sedition Acts are unconstitutional o o .  Right to refuse to enforce acts a state feels in unconstitutional o The Election of 1800   The election becomes ugly for both candidates o Jefferson accuses Adams of being a monarchist o Federalists accuse Jefferson of being a “Godless” man for his affairs with his slaves  Jefferson beats Adams, but ties with another candidate o  The Constitution did not have a solution if there was a tie for president o . Federalists control the House . Hamilton supports Jefferson  o o . Has lost support of many Federalists and American citizens

Note: After this election, the Constitution is amended to require the President and Vice President to be elected separately

A Peaceful transition  March 4, 1801 of power o  This is the first time a sitting president leaves office due to losing reelection o .

 o There has been a peaceful transition of power between every outgoing and incoming president since