The Presidency of
John Adams
President #2
Constitutional Influencers
3 A9
3B
Constitutional Influencers
9
3C
Constitutional Influencers
9
Constitutional Influencers
9
2nd President of the United States
Faced Growing tensions with
France
French were seizing American
ships
The XYZ Affair
Federalist (Loose Interpreter of
Constitution)
Continued many of Washington’s
policies
• Britain and France are still at war from the French Revolution…
• But America was practicing Neutrality, so we were still trading with both
countries
• France and Britain start seizing and looting cargo from our ships
• Federalists start to call for war.
• John Adams sent ambassadors to France to negotiate… they try to meet with the
French minister of foreign affairs but they were ignored.
• 3 French agents (nicknamed X, Y, and Z) told the Americans if
they’d loan France $10 million and pay a $250,000 bribe, the
minister would meet with them.
• This outraged Congress and the American public!!!
• 1798- We canceled our treaties and began seizing French ships.
• Congress expanded the American navy and army.
Alien-Sedition Acts:
Passed by the Federalists
The Alien and Sedition Acts were seen by
Democratic-Republicans as measures
against freedom of speech, press, and
assembly
Empowered the President to deport
“dangerous” aliens at his discretion
Increased time for becoming a citizen
from 5 yrs to 14 yrs
Made it illegal to say or write anything
against the President or the Federalist
Party in the press
Which Constitutional Amendment did the
Sedition Act infringe?
1st! There was no freedom of speech or the press
Jefferson and Madison led the Democratic- Republicans in their outspoken anger
against the Acts
Both men wrote a response to the Alien-Sedition Act called the Kentucky and Virginia
Resolutions.
(Put the following under the Virginia Resolution flap but be aware both resolutions said close to the same thing)
1. States have rights that the U.S. gov’t can’t violate or take away.
2. States have the right to nullify (ignore, not follow) a federal law
that violates individual rights.
3. Alien and Sedition Acts violated (didn’t follow) the rights
guaranteed in the Constitution to the people so the states could
nullify them.
© Students of History - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Students-Of-History
Written by James Madison, stated that “a power not
delegated by the Constitution, but on the contrary,
expressly and positively forbidden by one of the
amendments…. because it is leveled against that right
of… free communication among the people….”
Written by Thomas Jefferson, stated that states
had the power to nullify unconstitutional federal
laws….states have the right to judge….and
enforce nullification….of all unauthorized
acts….
John Adams
1797-1801
XYZ AFFAIR
1797-1798
Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien Act
1798
Sedition Act
1798
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions
Virginia Resolution
1798-1799
Kentucky Resolution
1798-1799