Dbq John Adams And The Federalists

Towards the end of the 17th century US relations with foreign nations such as France and GBR depleted to the cries of war. Luckily Mr. Adams considered the US’s condition financially and never asked congress to declare war, especially with France. Though during the election of 1800, Adams became no match for the Republican Party as the Federalists, represented by John Adams during the election, stabbed Adams in the back as Alexander Hamilton, a prominent High-Federalist always creating problems for Adams, cried to many southern voters of the Presidents inability to hold office. In fact, Hamilton composed a pamphlet “Letter Concerning the Public Conduct and Character of John Adams.” Federalists advocated for the vote of Charles Pickney,

F). Establishment of the Embargo act denied France and GBR any access to American ports to make the powerful nations realize lost opportunities and the power of US neutrality. Unless the US found a reliable trade partner besides France and GBR, the Embargo act of 1807 strongly challenged Jefferson’s economic and political view a Nation awaiting bankruptcy. Stating, “The honest payment of our debts and sacred preservation of the public faith; encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its handmaid” (Jefferson Doc. A); the president fully expressed progression for the reliance on agriculture and fully alleviate the debt. Yet Jefferson disrupted economic opportunities for loyal republican farmers in the south as the embargo cutoff tobacco trade between the US and GBR. Presented in a political cartoon, an American shipper attempted to smuggle a load of tobacco aboard a British ship though was restricted from the Ograbme snapping turtle representing restrictions of trade between the US and GBR (Doc. D). Many artisans, shopkeepers, and small famers claimed bankruptcy due to the restrictive nature of the embargo even though the commercial men supported republican ideals. In order to enforce the embargo acts, Jefferson forced a police state to control “disobeying” citizens. In fact, the president dispatched federal troops to overawe citizens of NY. During the beginning of Jefferson’s first term; the president slashed the size of the US army and retired naval warships by fifty percent, relying on state militias (Doc. H). To add on to, Jefferson even stated “Our best reliance in peace and for the first moments of war till the regulars may relieve them; the