Why did John Adams lose the support of many federalists?

Answer 1

During Adam's Presidency, America was pushed to the brink of war with France over the XYZ Affair. Many Americans pushed for a full-out war with France, but Adams felt that a war with France would be suicide for the young American nation. He refused to go to war, and as a result he was ostracized by the Federalists who saw him as a traitor to the Federalist cause and a weak president.

Answer 2

John Adams failed to obtain a second term because of how poorly his first term went. He passed some controversial laws and even declared the "Quasi War", an undeclared naval war with France. He was also facing Thomas Jefferson, a very popular candidate at the time. It was kind of like comparing Bush and Obama, in terms of where they sat popularity wise.

Answer 3

During Adam's Presidency, America was pushed to the brink of war with France over the XYZ Affair. Many Americans pushed for a full-out war with France, but Adams felt that a war with France would be suicide for the young American nation. He refused to go to war, and as a result he was ostracized by the Federalists who saw him as a traitor to the Federalist cause and a weak president.

Answer 4

Adams was not so terribly unpopular. He lost his re-election bid 73-65. His political philosophy of a strong central government at the expense of states rights and individual rights had strong opposition from Jefferson who had a large following and he was unpopular with Jefferson supporters.

Answer 5

The alien and sedition acts went too far in their attempt to protect the federal government from overthrow. Jefferson's constant warnings about too much federal control at the expense of states' rights and individual rights began to ring a louder bell and voters responded in favor of Jefferson.

Answer 6

The Republicans wanted to pressure Britain to the brink of war (and assumed that America could defeat a weak Britain).

Answer 7

because they did (: