Washington, Adams and Jefferson
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
- Will serve only 2 terms
- Washington’s accomplishments
- Western frontier opened to settlement
- Has kept the U.S. out of a European war
- Has paid down much of the national debt
- Warning in his Farewell Address
- Avoid “entangling alliances” with other nations that could drag us into war
Election of 1796 /
- John Adams (Massachusetts)
- Federalist
- Thomas Jefferson (Virginia)
- Democratic Republican
- Adams becomes 2nd President
- Jefferson will become Vice-President
The John Adams Administration /
- Washington D.C.
- First 2 temporary Capitals
- Difficult situation for Adams
- 2nd President following a beloved president George Washington
- Has few friends and many enemies
- The French and Jefferson are angry about The Jay Treaty
- French begin seizing American ships
The XYZ Affair /
- Adams sends representatives to France
- Americans are bribed by French Secret Agents
- Adams infuriated
- Congress authorizes building a Navy
- Both sides firing upon each other and seizing each other’s ships
Alien and Sedition Acts /
- 1798
- Adams takes advantage of the people’s support
- Tries to silence the Democratic Republicans
- Alien Act
- Sedition Act
The Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions /
- Tensions increase between Federalists and Democratic Republicans due to the Alien and Sedition Acts
- Virginia and Kentucky feel the Alien & Sedition Acts are unconstitutional
- Right to refuse to enforce acts a state feels in unconstitutional
The Election of 1800 /
- The election becomes ugly for both candidates
- Jefferson accuses Adams of being a monarchist
- Federalists accuse Jefferson of being a “Godless” man for his affairs with his slaves
- Jefferson beats Adams, but ties with another candidate
- The Constitution did not have a solution if there was a tie for president
- Federalists control the House
- Hamilton supports Jefferson
- Has lost support of many Federalists and American citizens
A Peaceful transition of power /
- March 4, 1801
- This is the first time a sitting president leaves office due to losing reelection
- There has been a peaceful transition of power between every outgoing and incoming president since