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| | '''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an [[America]]n Founding Father, diplomat, and the second [[President of the United States]] from 1797–1801. Adams was a prominent figure of the [[American Revolution]]. His numerous accomplishments include involvement in the drafting of the [[Declaration of Independence]], writing the constitution for the state of Massachusetts, serving as a diplomat to [[England]], [[France]], and the [[Netherlands]], negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and serving as the first Vice President of the United States under President [[George Washington]]. Adams changed the spelling of Jefferson's elegant "inalienable" rights to a disfavored "unalienable" rights, leaving that clumsy spelling in the most famous sentence in the English language.<ref>https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/unalienable.html</ref> | | '''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an [[America]]n Founding Father, diplomat, and the second [[President of the United States]] from 1797–1801. Adams was a prominent figure of the [[American Revolution]]. His numerous accomplishments include involvement in the drafting of the [[Declaration of Independence]], writing the constitution for the state of Massachusetts, serving as a diplomat to [[England]], [[France]], and the [[Netherlands]], negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and serving as the first Vice President of the United States under President [[George Washington]]. Adams changed the spelling of Jefferson's elegant "inalienable" rights to a disfavored "unalienable" rights, leaving that clumsy spelling in the most famous sentence in the English language.<ref>https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/unalienable.html</ref> |
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| − | In the [[United States presidential election, 1796|presidential election of 1796]], Adams, on the ticket of the [[Federalist Party]], defeated the Democratic-Republican nominee [[Thomas Jefferson]] and became the second President of the United States. He broke with Hamilton and the ultra-Federalists, leaving him in a weak position as president. He lost to Jefferson in a bitter rematch in 1800, and Adams was a sore loser for a long time. His presidency was marked by the [[Quasi-War]] between the United States and France, the [[XYZ Affair]], the founding of the [[U.S. Navy]], the passage of [[Alien and Sedition Acts]], building a new national army, and an unexpected peace with France; as he left office he appointed numerous judges, most notably [[John Marshall]] as Chief Justice. | + | Adams was a big supporter of law and order, to the point of even defending the British soldiers who shot protesters at the [[Boston Massacre]]. Adams signed legislation against aliens and critics of himself known as the [[Alien and Sedition Act]], which is considered one of the most unconstitutional bills ever enacted. |
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| | + | In the [[United States presidential election, 1796|presidential election of 1796]], Adams, on the ticket of the [[Federalist Party]], defeated the Democratic-Republican nominee [[Thomas Jefferson]] and became the second President of the United States. He broke with Hamilton and the ultra-Federalists, leaving him in a weak position as president. He lost to Jefferson in a bitter rematch in 1800, and Adams was a sore loser for a long time. |
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| | + | Adams' presidency was marked by the [[Quasi-War]] between the United States and France, the [[XYZ Affair]], the founding of the [[U.S. Navy]], the passage of [[Alien and Sedition Acts]], building a new national army, and an unexpected peace with France; as he left office he appointed numerous judges, most notably [[John Marshall]] as Chief Justice. |
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| | Adams founded one of the great families in American history, with numerous politicians, diplomats and historians. Adams reputation was long in the doldrums, since Franklin quipped in 1783: "He means well for his Country, and is always an honest Man, often a Wise One, but sometimes and in some things, absolutely out of his senses." Historians much admire his independence, patriotism and realism, but his self-righteousness and vanity represented a critical weakness. | | Adams founded one of the great families in American history, with numerous politicians, diplomats and historians. Adams reputation was long in the doldrums, since Franklin quipped in 1783: "He means well for his Country, and is always an honest Man, often a Wise One, but sometimes and in some things, absolutely out of his senses." Historians much admire his independence, patriotism and realism, but his self-righteousness and vanity represented a critical weakness. |