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The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  From 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, the United States accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  From 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, the United States accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new President (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated but just before he is replaced in office by the winner) that Jefferson blocked the payment of salaries to these new judges for their work.  This led to the famous case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time the new Supreme Court declared an Act of Congress to be unconstitutional and thereby void.  The Court grabbed power for itself to invalidate an Act of Congress, but did it in a way that President Jefferson would not complain by making him the victor in that particular case.  Think about the clever way the Court expanded its own power without sparking any resistance by Jefferson, who opposed a powerful judiciary.

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new President (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated but just before he is replaced in office by the winner) that Jefferson blocked the payment of salaries to these new judges for their work.  This led to the famous case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time the new Supreme Court declared an Act of Congress to be unconstitutional and thereby void.  The Court grabbed power for itself to invalidate an Act of Congress, but did it in a way that President Jefferson would not complain by making him the victor in that particular case.  Think about this clever way that the Supreme Court expanded its own power without sparking any resistance by Jefferson, who opposed a powerful judiciary.

After Adams retired he spent years writing long articles and letters to defend his political career.  Adams' self-serving writings were not well-received by the public, or even by some of his friends.  Adams harshly criticized Thomas Jefferson while he was president, and Adams even criticized Alexander Hamilton after he had tragically died in a duel.  But Adams did reconcile with Jefferson before both died.

After Adams retired he spent years writing long articles and letters to defend his political career.  Adams' self-serving writings were not well-received by the public, or even by some of his friends.  Adams harshly criticized Thomas Jefferson while he was president, and Adams even criticized Alexander Hamilton after he had tragically died in a duel.  But Adams did reconcile with Jefferson before both died.

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:American History lectures]]

[[Category:American History lectures]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 03}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 03}}