John Adams and the Election of 1796 JOHN ADAMS Born in Massachusetts 1st President to live in the White House Father of the American Navy Wife=Abigail Serves one term Election of 1796 By 1796, Americans were divided Candidates sought office for the first time as a member of a political party Feds and Repubs held meetings (caucuses) where they chose their leader Feds nominated John Adams Republicans nominated T. Jefferson 1796 Election Results (16 states in the Union) John Adams Massachusetts Federalist 71 51.4% Thomas Jefferson Virginia DemocraticRepublican 68 49.3% Thomas Pinckney South Carolina Federalist 59 42.8% Aaron Burr New York DemocraticRepublican 30 21.7% Samuel Adams Massachusetts Federalist 15 10.9% Oliver Ellsworth Connecticut Federalist 11 8.0% George Clinton New York DemocraticRepublican 7 5.1% Other - - 15 10.9% Total Number of Electors 138 Total Electoral Votes Cast 276 Number of Votes for a Majority 70 PRESIDENCY Adams elected President by 3 votes over Jefferson 71 to 68 Only time Pres/VP will be from diff political parties XYZ Affair Cause of the Problem French thought Jay’s Treaty was our attempt to help Britain win the war against France France began seizing U.S. ships (“Quasi-War”) XYZ Affair American Solution Adams wanted to avoid war—sent 3 men (Pinckney, Marshall and Gerry) to Paris to solve the crisis XYZ Affair French Monkey Wrench French foreign minister, Charles de Talleyrand, refused to meet with the Americans He sent 3 agents (“X-Y-Z”) who demanded a bribe and a loan from the U.S. XYZ Affair American Reaction Adams was furious and Congress prepared for war (“war fever” spreads) Dept of Navy created and larger army Many Republicans lost their Congressional seats Why is Adams looking to avoid war? The Spark A “quasi-war” with France Made American suspicious of foreigners who supported the French ALIEN + SEDITION Naturalization Act 14 year resident before becoming a citizen Alien Act Allowed President to imprison aliens, or send those he considered dangerous out of the country Sedition Act Made it a crime to speak, write or publish “false, scandalous and malicious” criticisms of the govt Why were they passed? Idea was to protect national security Feds were hoping they would weaken the Republican Party ALIEN + SEDITION: Results Discouraged immigration and led some foreigners to leave the country Convicted 10 Republican newspaper editors who had criticized the Federalists in government Opposition to Federalist Party grows REACTION Opposition to Federalist Party grew Led to a movement to allow states to overturn federal laws VA and KY Resolutions Organized by D-R Jefferson (KY) and Madison (VA) Claimed that Acts were unconstitutional KY Resolution said that states could NULLIFY federal laws considered unconstitutional Each state is independent and had a right to not obey a law Federalists criticized these Resolutions as a step toward the breakup of the Union Peace with France In the 1798 Congressional elections, Reps were voted out of office for supporting France By 1800, Adams sends another peace commission to France His cabinet disagrees Treaty of Mortefontaine Ends undeclared naval warfare News does not reach U.S. until after election
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