XYZ Affair & Reactions
What was the XYZ Affair?
French officials demanded a bribe from American diplomats before meeting.
What year were the Alien and Sedition Acts passed?
1798.
Who became vice president in 1796?
Thomas Jefferson.
Who wrote the letter to Robert R. Livingston about the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson
Who was William Marbury?
A man who was promised a job as a judge under Adams but didn’t receive his commission.
Which country demanded the bribe?
France.
What did the Alien Act allow the president to do?
Expel or jail foreigners considered dangerous and make it harder to become a citizen.
Who narrowly won the election of 1796
John Adams.
What was Jefferson asking Livingston to do in the letter?
Negotiate the purchase of New Orleans and possibly more territory.
Who refused to deliver Marbury’s commission?
James Madison, Secretary of State.
How did Americans respond to the XYZ Affair?
They were outraged and called for war.
What did the Sedition Act make illegal?
Speaking or writing against the government.
What problem occurred in the election of 1800?
Jefferson and Burr tied in the Electoral College.
Why was New Orleans so important to the U.S.?
It was a major port for trade along the Mississippi River.
What did Marbury do in response?
He sued Madison to get his commission.
What new body did Congress create as a result?
The U.S. Navy.
Which party supported the Acts and why?
Federalists, because they wanted to protect national security and limit Democratic-Republican criticism.
How was that problem resolved?
The House of Representatives voted to break the tie; Jefferson won.
In Marbury v. Madison, what did John Marshall declare was the duty of the judicial branch?
To say what the law is (interpret the law).
What was the Court’s decision in Marbury v. Madison?
Marbury had a right to his commission, but the Court could not enforce it because the law he used was unconstitutional.
Who eventually negotiated peace with France?
President John Adams sent new diplomats who reached peace in 1800.
What resolutions were passed in response and by whom?
The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, written by Jefferson and Madison.
What constitutional change resulted?
The 12th Amendment required separate ballots for president and vice president.
What precedent did Marshall establish in Marbury v. Madison?
Judicial review, the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Why is Marbury v. Madison important?
It established judicial review, giving the Supreme Court power to declare laws unconstitutional.