E
D
This victory ended Native American resistance in Ohio. The following year,
the Miami Confederacy signed the Treaty of Greenville, agreeing to give up most
of the land in Ohio in exchange for $20,000 worth of goods and an annual pay-
ment of nearly $10,000. This settlement continued a pattern in which settlers and
the government paid Native Americans much less for their land than it was
worth. Meanwhile, in the Northwest Territory, new sources of conflict were devel-
oping between Britain and the United States.
JAY’S TREATY
At the time of the Battle of Fallen Timbers, John Jay, the chief
justice of the Supreme Court, was in London to negotiate a treaty with Britain.
One of the disputed issues was which nation would control territories west of the
Appalachian Mountains. When news of Wayne’s victory at Fallen Timbers arrived,
the British agreed to evacuate their posts in the Northwest Territory and a treaty
was signed on November 19, 1794. The treaty managed to pass the Senate, but
many Americans, especially western settlers, were angry at its terms, which
allowed the British to continue their fur trade on the American side of the U.S.-
Canadian border.
Adams Provokes Criticism
The bitter political fight over Jay’s Treaty, along with the growing division between
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, convinced Washington not to seek a
third term in office. In his “Farewell Address” he urged the United States to
“steer clear of permanent alliances” with other nations. Then, in 1797,
Washington retired to his home at Mount Vernon.
In the presidential election of 1796, Americans faced a new
situation: a contest between opposing parties. The Federalists
nominated Vice-President John Adams for president and Thomas
Pinckney for vice-president. The Democratic-Republicans
nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr for
vice-president.
In the election, Adams received 71 electoral votes, while
Jefferson received 68. Because the Constitution stated that the
runner-up should become vice-president, the country found itself
with a Federalist president and a Democratic-Republican vice-presi-
dent. What had seemed sensible when the Constitution was written
had become a problem because of the unexpected rise of political parties.
The election also underscored the growing danger of sectionalism—
placing the interests of one region over those of the nation as a whole.
Almost all the electors from the southern states voted for Jefferson, while
all the electors from the northern states voted for Adams.
ADAMS TRIES TO AVOID WAR
Soon after taking office, President Adams faced
his first crisis: a looming war with France. The French government, which regard-
ed the Jay treaty with Britain as a violation of the French-American alliance,
refused to receive the new American ambassador and began to seize American
ships bound for Britain. Adams sent a three-man delegation consisting of Charles
Pinckney, minister to France; future Chief Justice John Marshall; and Elbridge
Gerry to Paris to negotiate a solution.
By this time, the Reign of Terror had ceased and the French government con-
sisted of a legislature and and a five-man executive branch called the Directory.
French power and prestige were at a high point because of the accomplishments
of a young general named Napoleon Bonaparte who had conquered most of west-
ern Europe. The Directory had little patience with the concerns of the Americans.
The American delegation planned to meet with the French foreign minister,
Talleyrand. Instead, the Directory sent three low-level officials, whom Adams in
194 C
HAPTER 6
Portrait of a young
John Adams by
Joseph Badger
D. Answer
Because it
allowed the
British to contin-
ue their fur trade
on the U.S. side
of the Canadian
border.
E. Answer
Because the
two top vote-
getters in 1796
were Federalist
and Democratic-
Republican ,
respectively, the
vice-president
and president
were from dif-
ferent political
parties.
MAIN IDEA
MAIN IDEA
E
Analyzing
Issues
How did
political parties
affect the results
of the election
of 1796?
MAIN IDEA
MAIN IDEA
D
Analyzing
Issues
Why were so
many Americans
dissatisfied with
Jay’s treaty with
Britain?
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