Corruption and Early America - Brad

The people’s faith in their government is directly proportional to the perceived amount of corruption in the government. Throughout the twentieth Century, the American people’s awareness of government corruption has greatly increased. Scandals have been zealously reported by the media, and the people have lost faith in the integrity of politicians. However, shortly after the creation of the American government, many politicians kept their integrity and acted for the good of the people. Three events during Adam’s presidency, the XYZ Affair, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and Adam’s decision to remain neutral, reveal three important factors in early American government.

Resulting from corruption in the emerging French government, the XYZ affair reveals the public’s attitude towards corruption. In 1797, the French seized neutral American vessels, and in the following year, President John Adams sent a committee to France to negotiate a treaty. Talleyrand, the French foreign minister, would not speak to the committee, but rather sent French agents who told the Americans that if they wanted to open up negotiations, they must bribe Talleyrand with two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and loan the French government ten million dollars. Outraged, the committee returned to America and the press published the story. When Americans read the story, they as well became outraged at the corruption and audacity of the French. The public response to the XYZ Affair shows their hatred of corruption and their standard for government officials.

Installed for the good of the country but repealed for the good of the people, the Alien and Sedition Acts show the American level of experience in handling their new government. After the XYZ Affair, the government pursued a more hostile policy towards France. For many months, the government fought the Quasi-War against France, both governments sinking the other’s vessels. At the same time, Americans grew suspicious of French and Irish immigrants. To protect the people and the government, Congress passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which gave the President the authority to deport any foreigners he deemed dangerous and also limited freedom of the press. By 1802, Congress had deemed most of the acts unconstitutional. Most of those that had not expired were repealed[1]. The installing and repealing of the Alien and Sedition Acts shows the inexperience of the American government in placing laws that protected the people and respected their rights.

Adam’s decision to remain neutral in the Napoleonic wars exposes the role of conscience in early American government. During the Quasi-War, an undeclared war fought against France after the XYZ Affair, President Adams faced an important decision: whether to fight a full-scale, declared war against France, or to reopen negotiations and strive for neutrality. Fighting a war would be good for his party: when wars come, the people rally around the president and he becomes popular. As long as the president remains popular, the party remains popular. When popular, the party can run the country. Although fighting a war would have been better for him and his party, Adams chose to remain neutral, thus preventing the deaths of Americans and making his decision for the good of the country. The decision to remain neutral shows that the president acted largely for the good of the people and did not allow himself to become corrupt.

As shown in the XYZ Affair, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and Adam’s continuing neutrality, morals, inexperience, and conscience influenced the government in its early years. Public outrage at corruption during the XYZ Affair discouraged corruption in American politicians. Despite some inexperience at governing, the government could effectively lead and protect the people. However, as corruption infiltrated the government, the people lost faith in their leadership. Only by maintaining his integrity can a leader guide his followers, for by maintaining integrity man leads by example.

[1] One Act, the Act Respecting Alien Enemies, remains today

-- Brad (grade 10)