Topic 7

John Adams

A. Foreign Affairs: Adams’ Finest Hour – He stood up to the French but avoided full-scale war

1. Jay’s Treaty – the turning point – angered the French!

2. Diplomacy – first mission to France: John Marshall, Charles C. Pinckney, and Elbridge Gerry

– Talleyrand, the French Foreign Minister

– $250,000 up front and a loan to the French government

– Americans quickly said no!

– Adams was furious: Mr. X, Mr. Y, and Mr. Z; hence, the XYZ Affair

3. To the brink with France: Undeclared naval war and Talleyrand’s response

4. Adams’ dilemma: war or peace?

5. Convention of 1800

B. Domestic Affairs and the Alien and Sedition Acts: Adams’ worst hour

1. The motive: why were these laws passed?

2. The Laws (summer of 1798):

– The Naturalization Act

– Alien Act

– Alien Enemies Act

– Sedition Act – The one I want you to remember!

3. The Republican Response: the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions

4. The public response

C. The election of 1800: its outcome and its aftermath

D. The Death of the Federalist Party: why did it die?

Topic 7 Review

• What was the XYZ Affair?
• Why did Hamilton not want peace with France?
• What was the importance of the Convention of 1800?
• Why were the motives of the Federalists in securing the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts?
• What were the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions? Who wrote each of them? Which of the two was more radical? In what way was it more radical?
• Who were the presidential candidates in the election of 1800?
• What was strange about the outcome of the election of 1800 and how was the election resolved?
• What amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution after this election? What did this amendment say?
• Why did the Federalist Party gradually die off in the early 19^th century?