Final answer:
The Adams Administration caused tensions between the Federal and State governments mainly through the Alien and Sedition Acts, which suppressed freedoms and led to Jefferson and Madison's Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions advocating for states' rights, setting the stage for a political shift with the Election of 1800.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tensions between the powers of the Federal and State governments during the Adams Administration were significantly heightened by a series of events and legislations that reflected the deep political divisions of the era.
The passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 by the Federalists, aimed at curbing the power of immigrants and the Republican press, was perceived by Republicans as an attempt to suppress their freedom of speech and political power.
In retaliation, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison drafted the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions advocating for states' rights and the right of states to judge the constitutionality of federal laws.
Although these resolutions did not immediately alter the federal-state relationship, they became a rallying point for the Republicans and contributed to the eventual end of the Federalist Era with Jefferson's victory in the Election of 1800.