Robyn Shapiro
Election of 1800 Adams Attack Ad
While certainly a qualified and formative figure of the Revolution, President Adams was unable to hold together burgeoning parties that were increasingly fueled by self-interest and personal vendettas. His first term consisted of a number of mistakes that today would be seen as disastrous public relations failures. These mistakes and accounts, disparaging to his likeability, were featured throughout the ad.
To set the tone against Adams, it was important to include and exploit the wild stereotypes he and his party carried. The ad is entitled “Blind, Bald, Crippled, Toothless Man,” a Jefferson quotation that is incredibly reproachful. Following a picture of Adams, is a Fisher Ames quotation: “creature of impulse or freakish humor.” This line, because it given by a fellow Federalist, was even more useful in emphasizing his distance from the voter. Adams’ character becomes questionable, as does his ability to lead. Next is another quotation from Fisher Ames, that begins to challenge his actual presidency and denies support for re-election: “President Adams has not our approbation of some of his measures, nor do we desire his re-election.” I found the sense of plural disapproval particularly interesting. Moreover it is useful in including the viewer in a mindset negative towards Adams.
Next is an image of the White House circa 1800 that reminds the viewer that Adams has been in control of the Presidency. This is followed by a quotation from Madison, “palpable and alarming infraction of the Constitution,” which is in reference to the Alien and Sedition Acts. Using these two pieces, one after another, has the effect to not only remind of the Alien and Sedition laws, but to subvert his entire time in office as anathema to the intentions of the constitution. Where Madison retained special authority of matters of the Constitution his words are particularly effective in challenging the legitimacy of Adams’ rule. The quotation is followed by another picture of Adams, and then the words “Executive party,” to underscore his ambitions toward a powerful and hierarchical form of government. Continuing to emphasize the inability of Adams to control his government or command proper interaction between parties is a political cartoon of the fight between Republican Matthew Lyon and Federal Roger Griswold. His practice of government is known to lead to turmoil, and his desired government will “bind us by the treble chain of fiscal, legal, and military despotism.” Adams is shown to be radically unfit for his office and would likely to descend the country further into disaster if elected again.
The remainder of the ad consists of individual portions of what was known as the Republican litany. Published in newspapers throughout the country and known to many, the litany uses common stereotypes of Adams and references a number of failures, while constantly asking the “Good Lord” to “deliver us.” First used is “From a burial place for American nobility,” which is paired with a political cartoon showing the burning of American noble titles and is meant to be an allegory of liberty flourishing while old world systems fall. Next is “from a direct tax,” which is paired with a cartoon of the Whiskey rebellion that is intended to incite memories of violence caused by taxation. “From Jay’s Treaty,” is paired with an actual picture of the document, an old issue, but one that was central to characterizations of the Federalists as unsupportive of foreign liberty. Adams’ hostility to the French and eventual quasi-war is emphasized further in the next slide which uses a satirical image of the XYZ affair, providing a challenge to Adams’ skills at foreign diplomacy. “From old Tories; from aristocrats,” with a Revolution style picture of “Tory’s Day of Judgment” portrays Adams as no more American than British loyalists. A picture of the capital is used with “from heavy taxes, expensive salaries,” demonstrates contempt for the large-scale government created by the Federalists. Finally, and most egregious is “from the alien act; from the sedition act, and from all other evils,” with a picture of the Sedition Acts. Despite Federalist justifications the acts and all other evils could be seen as nothing other than direct attacks on liberty. Culminating the litany and the ad is the plea: “Good Lord deliver us.” Adams’ presidency is ultimately characterized as a failure that must end immediately rather than continue.
Bibliography
Adams Image #1: http://www.vassar.edu/headlines/2008/080313-adams-project.html
Quote # 1: Jefferson’s Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism by Susan Dunn, page 160
Quote # 2: Jefferson’s Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism by Susan Dunn, page 163
White House Image: http://www.johnhorse.com/trail/01/b/02zz.htm
Quote # 3: Jefferson’s Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism by Susan Dunn, page 167
Adams Image #2: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003656585/
Quote # 4: Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 by Gordon Wood, page 246
Congressional Pugilists Image: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwpugilr.html
Quote # 5: Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 by Gordon Wood, page 246
Republican Litany: Jefferson’s Second Revolution: The Election Crisis of 1800 and the Triumph of Republicanism by Susan Dunn, page 144
Triumph of Liberty Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003690786/
Whiskey Rebellion Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/cph27927/
Jay’s Treaty Image: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=008/llsl008.db&recNum=129
XYZ Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93509853/
Tory’s Day of Judgment Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006691561/
Capitol Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/92519533/
Sedition Act Image: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/sedition/s-1.html