34 - John Adams, Part 2
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
THE MAKING OF A NATION -- a program in Special English by the Voice of America.
(THEME)
I'm Maurice Joyce. Today, Richard Rael and I continue the story of America's second president, John Adams.
VOICE TWO:
| . |
| Graphic Image |
John Adams took office in Seventeen-Ninety-Seven. He had served eight years as vice president under President George Washington. Now, state electors had chosen him to govern the new nation.
Adams was an intelligent man. He was a true patriot and an able diplomat. But he did not like party politics. This weakness caused trouble during his presidency. For, during the late Seventeen-Hundreds, two political parties struggled for power. He was caught in the middle.
VOICE ONE:
Adams was a member of the Federalist Party. As president, he should have been party leader. But this position belonged to a man who really knew how to get and use political power, Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton served as Treasury Secretary under President Washington. Now, he was a private citizen, a lawyer in New York City.
Through the Federalist Party, Hamilton continued to have great influence over the national government. Federalists loyal to Hamilton controlled the Congress. Even President Adams' three cabinet ministers were loyal to Hamilton. In fact, they worked together against the new president.
This political situation made Adams' term in office very difficult. Yet strangely, it also led to the end of Federalist Party power.
VOICE TWO:
Two major issues marked Adams' presidency. One concerned foreign policy. The other concerned the rights of citizens.
The first involved America's relations with France.
Federalists, in general, were men of wealth and position. They did not believe in democracy, rule by the people. For this reason, they strongly opposed the revolution in France. They were horrified by the execution of the French king and queen. Federalists wanted an alliance with Britain. Over time, they demanded war with France.
VOICE ONE:
American support for France came from the opposition party, the Republicans. The leader of that party was the country's vice president, Thomas Jefferson.
France helped America win its war for independence from Britain. The friendship formed during the war continued afterward when Thomas Jefferson served as minister to Paris. Relations began to turn bad as soon as he returned home.
The man who replaced him openly supported the French monarchy...the losing side in the revolution. After the revolution succeeded, the new French government demanded that he leave.
VOICE TWO:
Most Federalists did not want good relations with France. They used their power to prevent the government from sending a pro-French representative to Paris. They also searched for any signs of insult, any excuse to declare war.
President Adams did not agree with the majority of Federalists. He wanted to improve relations with France through negotiations. Yet he said the United States would strengthen its defenses. We will be ready, he said, if war comes.
VOICE ONE:
One incident, especially, brought the two nations close to war. It is known in American history books as the "X, Y, and Z Affair."
President Adams had appointed a committee of three ministers to negotiate with the French government. French officials kept these three men waiting for several weeks. While they waited, they had a visit from three Frenchmen -- later called X, Y, and Z.
X, Y, and Z told the Americans that France would sign an agreement if the United States did three things.
It had to lend the French government twelve million dollars. It had to apologize for anti-French statements in a recent message from President Adams to the American Congress. And it had to pay the French foreign minister two-hundred-fifty thousand dollars.
VOICE TWO:
The American ministers were willing to pay. But they wanted to sign the agreement first. The French foreign minister refused. First the money. . .then the agreement.