Diplomacy and Conflict
Why did John Adams try to keep the United States out of war with France?
To avoid war and protect the young nation’s safety and trade.
What law made it harder for immigrants to become citizens and punished critics of the government?
The Alien and Sedition Acts.
Which territory did Thomas Jefferson purchase from France?
The Louisiana Territory
What was the name given to the team Jefferson sent to explore the Louisiana Territory?
The Corps of Discovery.
Who was the 2nd President of the United States?
John Adams
What was the XYZ Affair in simple terms?
A failed negotiation in which French agents demanded bribes from U.S. diplomats.
Define the purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts in one sentence.
To restrict immigrants and silence critics who might oppose the government.
How much did the United States pay for the Louisiana Territory?
15 Million
Name one of the goals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
To map the territory and find a water route to the Pacific.
Make friendly contact with Native Americans
Create journals on plants and animals
Who was the 3rd President who completed the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson
How did French actions toward American ships cause tension during Adams’s presidency?
France seized or attacked American ships because of tensions over trade and alliances with Britain.
Why were the Alien and Sedition Acts considered controversial? Give one reason.
Because they limited free speech and made it harder for immigrants to become citizens.
Why did Jefferson want control of the Port of New Orleans?
To keep the Mississippi River and Port of New Orleans open for American trade
Who were two members of the Corps of Discovery
York and Sacagawea.
What role did York play on the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
York was an enslaved member of the expedition who helped with labor, hunting, and sometimes interactions with Native peoples.
Explain one way the French Revolution influenced American foreign policy in the 1790s.
The French Revolution led to European wars that pressured the U.S. to choose sides, making neutrality difficult.
Explain how the Alien and Sedition Acts affected freedom of speech and the press.
They allowed the government to punish people for criticizing policies, reducing free press and speech.
How did the Louisiana Purchase change the size of the United States?
It doubled the size of the United States.
Give one challenge Lewis and Clark faced while exploring the new territory.
Harsh terrain, unknown rivers, weather, and interactions with unfamiliar Native American groups.
Explain how Adams’s and Jefferson’s decisions show different approaches to dealing with foreign problems.
Adams focused on diplomacy and avoiding war (e.g., trying to stay neutral with France), while Jefferson pursued expansion and exploration (e.g., the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark).
Describe how the U.S. response to French demands showed the challenge of staying neutral between Britain and France.
The U.S. refused to be bribed and expanded its navy and diplomacy, showing the difficulty of neutrality between Britain and France. In fear of retaliation John Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts
How were our liberties impacted by the Alien and Sedition Acts?
The Acts show government actions that limited liberties like speech and participation, prompting debates about constitutional rights. Our Constitution was challenged.
Describe one economic or geographic reason the Louisiana Purchase was important to the United States’ growth.
It provided land for farming, control of important waterways for trade, and opportunities for westward expansion
Explain how Sacagawea helped the Corps of Discovery and why her role mattered for the expedition’s success.
Sacagawea served as an interpreter and guide; her knowledge of the land and ability to communicate with some Native groups helped the expedition negotiate safe passage and find resources.
Explain how the French Revolution influenced at least two major events or decisions during Adams’s and Jefferson’s presidencies.
The French Revolution influenced Adams’s efforts to keep the U.S. out of war with France and is linked to the tensions that led to the Alien and Sedition Acts; it also explains that Jefferson bought the Louisiana Territory from France—a decision connected to France’s need for money after European wars and the revolution—showing direct influence on both presidencies.