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About this sample
About this sample
Words: 616 |
Page: 1|
4 min read
Published: Nov 8, 2019
Words: 616|Page: 1|4 min read
Published: Nov 8, 2019
Following the presidency of General George Washington, the first election with a division of political parties occurred. By only three electoral votes, John Adams won the presidency, with Thomas Jefferson yielding as the Vice President. Political divisions placed a strain on the country, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists fighting for the right to have a say in the efficiency of the system. Although John Adams managed to create an image of himself, the enactment of the Alien and Sedition Acts changed the way political parties were viewed and ultimately altered the outcome of the Election of 1800.
John Adams was inaugurated on March 4th of 1797 and was the official candidate of the Federalist Party. His first order of business was to fix previously broken relationships with France, which led to the XYZ Affair. The Affair angered the nation because France was accused of seizing American ships and impressing Americans (AMSCO, 116). When asked to come to terms with the issue, France single-handedly avoided the situation by asking for bribes from delegates who were asked to negotiate a deal. The actions of the French infuriated the Americans, for it was seen as a disrespectful act towards the severity of the situation. However, war against France was successfully avoided; this victory was praised by the Federalist Party, whose anger strengthened their desire to create change. Ultimately, the Party won the majority in the election of 1798, which led to the enactment laws against the opposing political party – the Democratic-Republicans (AMSCO, 117).
In 1798, the series of laws known as the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress, who permitted the power to deport aliens and prohibited any act of government opposition. The Federalists feared that foreigners were dangerous beings who would heavily impact the security of the nation, so the Alien Act called for the power to deport those who were deemed dangerous. Furthermore, an immigrant would have had to reside in the country for a minimum of five years before given the eligibility to vote; however, a new law raised the minimum to 14 years (U.S. History). On the other hand, the Sedition Act permitted government control over individual actions, specifically, by prohibiting public, government oppositions. Those who wrote, printed, or published any news deemed “scandalous” and attacked the government, could be fined or imprisoned for their actions (U.S. History). The morality of these laws was viewed as unfair by the nation in its entirety, creating a sense of doubt on the government. They were viewed as unjust and created an unforgettable, negative image.
Since the laws were unpopular amongst Americans, Adams failed to win the reelection in 1800. Surprisingly, the election took a turn because a fellow Federalist abandoned his ideals to support his home state and sacrificed the future of his own Party (Freeman). As a result, former Vice President, and Republican, Thomas Jefferson won the presidency. However, since the laws were a Federalist decision, the Party would never see another Federalist candidate win an election, for they made mistakes that cost them future victory.
In conclusion, President John Adams had intentions to fix the country that had been established, but failed to stick to popular morale and focused on the power of political parties. George Washington had warned all of the dangers of such; its effects took a toll on – not only – the Federalist Party, but on all future candidates who sought to seek public appeal. Although this was the first occasion in which the power of Parties was recognized, it sparked future outlooks on understanding different values and beliefs. The combination of external disagreements and a search for power destroyed the potential of Adams, along with that of the Federalist Party.
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