Alien And Sedition Acts: The Dramatic Shift In Moral Values

The Election of 1800: The Dramatic Shift in Moral Values

The election of 1800 was described as the “revolution of 1800” by Thomas Jefferson because it was the first time power shifted peacefully between 2 parties. Thomas Jefferson argued that lower taxes and a smaller military was crucial for economic stability. Thomas Jefferson, the Republican, ran against John Adams, the Federalist, in the first election where the candidates actually campaigned. It was also the first time the electoral college tied between 2 candidates: Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The unusual quality was that both candidates were the members of the same party, The Democratic-Republicans, tied in the electoral college. The framers of the Constitution had not anticipated such a tie, nor had they considered the possibility of the election of a President or Vice President from opposing factions – which had been the case in the 1796 election. In 1804, the passage of the 12th Amendment corrected these problems by providing for separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President. From there, it took 36 ballots in the House of Representatives to elect Thomas Jefferson until the intervention of Alexander Hamilton. This caused inconveniences, however. A long trail of betrayal extinguished the trust of the 2 candidates for each other although they shared similar interests. However, going in two opposite directions, they both conclude that their ideas are ideal to keep America from going toward a dictatorship. The lack of trust led to many betrayals and actions against the general moral values of the past.

While John Adams was president, he came across the French foreign threat. He took undemocratic action against suppressing speech and press. He believed that the free press was a threat to national security and put forward maximum effort to keep the press silent. The strong steps that Adams took in response to the French foreign threat also included severe repression of domestic protest. A series of laws known collectively as the ALIEN AND SEDITION ACTS were passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798 and signed into law by President Adams. These laws included new powers to DEPORT foreigners as well as making it harder for new IMMIGRANTS to vote. Previously a new immigrant would have to reside in the United States for five years before becoming eligible to vote, but a new law raised this to 14 years. Only 4% of the population voted, making it a very unfair election. The first person on trial under the Alien and Sedition Acts was Matthew Leon for accusing the administration of selfishness. John Adams also was not the perfect Samaritan, either. Although he was the only president of the first twelve that did not own slaves, he is still depicted as racist today due to his anti-immigrant laws. John Adams was so also very eager to move the capital near Potomac River that critics often accused him of trying to court votes from the southern states.

Jefferson was a lifetime slaveholder. Yes, this fact is often avoided when looking back at history. He believed in the inferiority of blacks, which is hypocritical when compared to the phrase “all men are created equal” in the US Declaration of Independence. He was also a liar. His friend from the American Revolution, Polish nobleman Tadeusz Kosciuszko, came to America in 1798 to receive back pay for his military service. He then wrote a will directing Jefferson to use all of Kosciuszko’s money and land in the U.S. to “free and educate slaves.” Jefferson agreed to do so. After Kosciuszko died in 1817, Jefferson refused to free or educate any of them. Due to a constitutional defect, he became Vice President although an opponent of the president. He later went on to become president after Alexander Hamilton agreed to vote for Thomas Jefferson instead of Aaron Burr, both of which he disliked. Peace would come to an end at the final year of Thomas Jefferson’s rule. Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a bloody duel. Since it was traditionally honorable to accept a duel, it felt to both sides it was the just thing to do.

Before becoming rivals, Adams and Jefferson were close. Adams seemed as happy as Franklin to receive Jefferson. His “appointment gives me great pleasure,” Adams exulted at the time. However, this changed not long later. Adams feared that Jefferson would cause chaos due to his support of the French Revolution. It would threaten liberty, conflicting with Adams’ efforts to suppress speech. He eased the raising of taxes and expanded the military, but Jefferson saw this as a way of suppressing the Democratic-Republicans. Due to high taxes, more and more people favored Thomas Jefferson, making him the first vice president that took the place of the president. Adams also feared the rising federal debt and was unsure whether Jefferson’s low taxes would fix the issue. Jefferson also feared that Adams was a threat to liberty. His introduction of the Alien and Sedition Acts seemed to him as unjust discrimination. Jefferson saw the government as a path to monarchy under Adams.

This is not so different from today’s politics. The two parties still blame each other for the same problems in the country, often resulting in corruption. Unfavorable bias still exists within today’s government concerning immigrants. Both sides have a common goal: Justice. However, they go in opposite directions, just like in the election of 1800. The greatest debate today revolves around closing the borders almost completely vs. keeping it open for all. Justice is either created for people outside of the borders and limiting the justice of the people inside the border or keeping the justice of the people inside the border by not giving it to other people. Aside from that, politicians today still argue the constitutionality of many laws that are passed or renewed.

The election of 1800 was filled with outrageous and selfish actions committed by both parties. Both sides have experienced corruption, hypocrisy, and dishonesty to the point where their controversy is still talked about today. From moving the capital in order to court more votes to being a slaveowner believing injustice, many dishonorable acts were committed for power. Betrayal did not leave the first-ever “peaceful” election. Friends became rivals and even resulted in murder due to a flaw in the constitution and clashing of ideas. General moral values were unsuitable in the circumstances and led to the filthy era that we study today.