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He served only one term (four years) and his presidency was a failure due primarily to foreign policy humiliations.  The problem was that no one in Europe respected this new country called the United States, and Adams had to deal with that lack of respect.  For example, in 1798 there was the "XYZ Affair," in which American diplomats went to France to demand an end to French attacks on American ships.  Instead of being received in a dignified manner, three French agents (referred to anonymously as "XYZ") demanded that a bribe be given to them in order to consider the American request.  News of this demand for a bribe reached the United States and it was humiliating to the young country.

He served only one term (four years) and his presidency was a failure due primarily to foreign policy humiliations.  The problem was that no one in Europe respected this new country called the United States, and Adams had to deal with that lack of respect.  For example, in 1798 there was the "XYZ Affair," in which American diplomats went to France to demand an end to French attacks on American ships.  Instead of being received in a dignified manner, three French agents (referred to anonymously as "XYZ") demanded that a bribe be given to them in order to consider the American request.  News of this demand for a bribe reached the United States and it was humiliating to the young country.

Adams did not handle the criticism of him well.  Recall that he was from Puritan Massachusetts, where it was customary to exclude or even hang someone who challenged authority.  Adams' reaction to unfavorable statements about him was to sign the Alien & Sedition Acts, which made it a crime to criticize him!

Adams did not handle the criticism of him well.  Recall that he was from Puritan Massachusetts, where it was customary to exclude or even hang someone who challenged authority.  Adams' reaction to unfavorable statements about him was to sign the Alien & Sedition Acts, which made it a crime to criticize him!

Actually, it was more complex than that.  The Federalist Party, which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the president the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  The Sedition Act was obviously unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech, at least by today's standards.

Actually, it was more complex than that.  The Federalist Party, which Adams led, wanted to censor and weaken the opposition party, known as the Democratic-Republican Party.  The Alien & Sedition Acts were designed to weaken the Democratic-Republican Party, which had [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]] as its leaders.  The Alien Act gave the president the power to expel aliens (immigrants) from the country, and the Sedition Act made it a crime to impede any law or utter criticism of high government officials like Adams.  The Sedition Act was obviously unconstitutional under the First Amendment protection of free speech, at least by today's standards.

Jefferson and Madison responded by drafting strong state resolutions (Kentucky and Virginia, respectively) to "nullify" or declare the Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional.  Jefferson and Madison viewed the Acts primarily as an attack on their Democratic-Republican party by Adams' Federalists.  Jefferson and Madison invoked state sovereignty, claiming that a state does not have to obey an unconstitutional federal law.  This unintentionally provided a basis for states in the South later to try to "nullify" other federal laws, leading to the Civil War.

Jefferson and Madison responded by drafting strong state resolutions (Kentucky and Virginia, respectively) to "nullify" or declare the Alien & Sedition Acts unconstitutional.  Jefferson and Madison viewed the Acts primarily as an attack on their Democratic-Republican Party by Adams' Federalist Party.  Jefferson and Madison invoked state sovereignty, claiming that a state does not have to obey an unconstitutional federal law.  This unintentionally provided a basis for states in the South later to try to "nullify" other federal laws, leading to the Civil War.

'''Debate:  Can a State nullify an act of Congress?  Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?'''

'''Debate:  Can a State nullify an act of Congress?  Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?'''

The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  In 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, American 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, American 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 refused to pay these judges.  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 for the first time.

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 refused to pay these judges.  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 for the first time.