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A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem

A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem. President John Adams The XYZ Affair The Alien and Sedition Acts . The Election of 1796. Hamilton was the first Federalists choice for president but he was considered to controversial to run

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A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem

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  1. A Time for Dilemma: John Adams and the French Problem President John Adams The XYZ Affair The Alien and Sedition Acts

  2. The Election of 1796 • Hamilton was the first Federalists choice for president but he was considered to controversial to run • Adams (Federalist) is chosen and is elected president in 1796 • President Adams will be asked by both France and Britain to join their side against the other

  3. The XYZ Affair • The French are angered by Jay’s Treaty and begin attacking American ships • Adams sends agents to enter in a treaty with the French as well

  4. The XYZ Affair • French agents demand a bribe before they talk to the American agents about a treaty • Adams embarrasses the Republicans by announcing to the nation how the French behaved • The nation prepares for a possible war

  5. His Presidency • Adams was strong willed and disliked the Jeffersonian Republicans • Adams’ personality makes it hard for him to unify the Federalists • He’s perceived as weak when threatened by France with war and does not act on their threat

  6. Trouble on The High Seas

  7. The Alien and Sedition Acts • Federalists fear that Republicans and the French will become allies • French and British refugees are coming to the United States to escape the war • The Federalists will pass several laws to keep the Republicans for complaining against how the Federalist are running things

  8. The Alien and Sedition Acts • June 18, 1798 The Naturalization Act requires a longer amount of residence to become a citizen • June 25, 1798 Alien Act gave the president the power to expel foreigners (used against the French) • July 14, 1798 Sedition Act made it a crime to publish criticisms of the government

  9. Politicians can be vindictive • The Federalists (Adam’s party) attempted to silence criticism from the Republican party by enforcing the Sedition Act • Ben Franklin’s son is actually arrested for violating the Act

  10. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolves,1798 • Jefferson and Madison believe that the Sedition Act violates the 1st Amendment • They argue that states can nullify a federal law if the state believes it to be unconstitutional • The Resolves were a ploy to jumpstart Jefferson’s bid for president in the next election

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