QUIZ: The Presidency of John Adams: 1796 to 1800

In what election did John Adams first run for the office of the U.S. presidency?

• 1800

• 1754

• 1796

• 1788

Which statement best defines a political party?

• A group of elcted representatives who always side with their constituents.

• Groups who are involved in political pursuits.

• Groups of people who organize to help elect government officials and influence government policies.

• Groups of people who protest laws and policies passed by the U.S. Congress.

Political party differences were based partly where people lived. (a)   tended to be ​ (b)   who lived in cities in the ​ (c)   states.​ (d)   ​ who lived in isolated areas in the ​ Southern states tended to be ​ (e)   .

• Federalists
• businesspeople
• Farmers
• Northern
• Democratic-Republicans

At first glance, John Adams did not appear well suited for the office of the presidency. Which of the following characteristics did he lack?

• President Washington's dignity

• A friendly, warm personality.

  (He was seen as cold and distant.)

• Experience as a foreign ambassador

• Hardworking, honest and intelligent mind.

What was John Adams' first goal as U.S. President?

• To repay all U.S. debts

• To improve relations with Great Britain

• To improve relations with Spain

• To improve relations with France.

In 1797, the French had begun to harrass and seize U.S. merchant ships who were trading with Great Britain. To try to smooth out relations between the U.S. and France, President Adams sent diplomats to negotiate a treaty to protect U.S. shipping. After arriving in Paris, the French foreign minister Talleyrand refused to speak to the U.S. diplomats. Instead, three French agents approached the U.S. diplomats and offered a meeting with Talleyrand for a payment of $250,000. The U.S. diplomats refused to pay the money and returned to the U.S. to report the event. After hearing about this request for a bribe payment the Federalists called for war with France.

What was this event called?

• The Talleyrand Affair

• The French Fry

• The X, Y, Z Affair

• The French Non-Treaty

Which statement best explains what the cry, "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" mean?

• The U.S. will pay France a million dollars if they will only save one cent of our shipping trade.

• The U.S. will spend one million dollars to build a military to go to war but we will not spend one penny to pay a bribe.

• The U.S. owes one million dollars but we will not repay France one penny of what we owe them until they stop harrassing our ships.

• The U.S. will not repay one penny of our debt to France unless France pays the U.S. one million dollars in tribute.

Which of following was included in President Adams' preparation for war with France?

• Adams' expanded the U.S. navy fleet to more than 30 ships.

• Adams' asked Congress to create a standing, peacetime army to be ready to fight quickly.

• Adams' held secret meetings with Great Britain to help the US fight against France.

• Adams created a war commission to organize the army and navy efforts against foreign enemies.

President Adams did not want to go to war with France because of one main issue. Which?

• The U.S. had no navy

• The U.S. had no army

• President Adams was worried about the cost of a war

• The U.S. might have to fight France and Britain at the same time.

Match the nation that was supported by each of the first two political parties in the United States:

• Democratic-Republicans

• Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

• France

• Federalist

• Federalists

• Alien and Sedition Acts

• Great Britain

• Democratic-Republicans