Election of 1796

• Adams 71, Jefferson 68 (became VP), Pinckney 59, Burr 30
  
• triumph of Federalist foreign policy success
  
• Adams sought "republic of virtue" and above party
  

Timothy Pickering - 3rd Secretary of State 1795-1800

• evidence of French hostility - C.C. Pinckney rebuff
  
• Toussaint L'Ouverture revolt 1794-1802
  

Special Session 1797 - "if you want peace, prepare for war"

• 3 frigates of '94, 80,000 militia, harbor forts
  
• defensive only - no privateering, restrict arms trade, no taxes
  
• party conflict grew - T. Callendar expose of Maria Reynolds affair
  
• adjourned July, 1797
  

XYZ mission to Talleyrand and Directory in France

• Pinckney, Marshall, Gerry appointed May 31, 1797
  
• met Hottinguer, Hauteval, Bellamy Oct. 18
  
• France wanted bribe, end to Jays Treaty
  
• "It is no, no; not a sixpence."
  
• French decree Jan. 18, 1798 - all ships with Brit goods to be seized, and no ship from a Brit port allowed in any French port
  

War fever in U.S.

• Mar. 19 - Adams send "quasi-war" message to Congress - state of "limited hostilities" and seeks arming of ships
  
• Republicans opposed - want to see XYZ messages - pub'd Apr. 3
  
• B.F. Bache's Aurora attacked; Abigail wears black cockade
  
• rumors of invasion of South by Illuminati
  
• Matthew Lyon spits on Roger Griswold in Congress
  
• Adams proclaims May 9 a "day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer"
  
• Alien and Sedition Acts passed June 18-July 14. - 10 Repub. convicted
  

Britain seemed in danger

• Nelson wins at Nile Aug.1 , but fear of Napoleon cross-channel invasion
  
• great Royal Navy mutiny of 50,000 on 113 ships
  

Military Bills of 1798

• 50 ships, Provisional Army of 50,000 commanded by major-general
  
• Benj Stoddert as Secretary of Navy, incl. Marines
  
• property tax on houses and slaves; and Adams could borrow $7m.
  

Crisis with France begins

• June 13 embargo on any French ships attempting to enter U.S. ports
  
• July 7 - Treaty ended, French ministers and consuls expelled
  
• but Marshall returns June 18, reports Directory does not want war
  
• Congress adjourns July 19 - no war message
  
• Adams appoints Hamilton major-general
  
• Hamilton plans attack on Spanish La. with Wilkinson
  
• but Adams emph navy and defense and neutral Spain
  

Quasi-War 1798-99

• USS United States, USS Constellation, USS Constitution first of 13 frigates
  
• new design of Joshua Humphreys - single deck, big guns, 36 sails
  
• Thomas Truxtun's Constellation captures French frigate Insurgente Feb. 9, 1799
  
• privateers commissioned with letters of marque, but not against unarmed French
  
• Navy estab bases at Guadaloupe and Santo Domingo
  
• marine insurance rates drop to 10% - Navy successful
  

Talleyrand seeks to end war

• concessions to Gerry in 1798:
  
  • no bribe needed,
    
  • privateers in West Indies ended,
    
  • embargo on American ships in French ports ended
    
• Adams signs Logan Act Jan. 30, 1799 and recommends sending peace mission
  

Backlash against Federalists

• popular opposition to Alien and Sedition Acts, taxes, high cost of war ($9m in '98)
  
• Pickering's use of "Tub Plot" fails - mulatto Matthew Salmon not threat
  
• Fries Rebellion in Pennsylvania - Army rough on Wm. Duane's Aurora
  

Peace mission to France

• Oliver Ellsworth and Wm. Vans Murray, Wm. Davie
  
• Adams wrote instructions himself - Pickering opposed
  
• consulate replaced Dirtectory in France Nov. 8, 1799
  
• Austria defeated at Marengo June 14, 1800 - Napoleon wants U.S. freindship
  

Convention of 1800 signed Oct. 3

Links:

• Before George and George W., there were John and John Quincy fromÊAP, September 17, 2000
• USS Constitution
• David McCullough on John Adams from biography 2001
• David McCullough on John Adams from CBS News July 4, 2003