Changes

Adam's faced the challenge of having to succeeded George Washington. He retained all of Washington's original cabinet members. Although some historians consider it a mistake, he believed that government officials should not be removed except for cause. He would later add the Department of [[Navy]] in 1798. He protected the Washington administration's policy of neutrality in the on going war between [[England]] and [[France]]. Federalists were pushing for a war against France and closer ties to Great Britian. Instead Adams wanted to send a bipartisan commission to France that included [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]], however they both refused.  

Adam's faced the challenge of having to succeeded George Washington. He retained all of Washington's original cabinet members. Although some historians consider it a mistake, he believed that government officials should not be removed except for cause. He would later add the Department of [[Navy]] in 1798. He protected the Washington administration's policy of neutrality in the on going war between [[England]] and [[France]]. Federalists were pushing for a war against France and closer ties to Great Britian. Instead Adams wanted to send a bipartisan commission to France that included [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]], however they both refused.  

Jefferson spent much of his time as vice-president attacking Adams, even going so far as by hire journalists to write scurrilous editorials about the President. Adams passed several laws in an attempt to prevent his defeat by Jefferson in 1800. Adams passed the [[Alien Act|Alien]] and [[Sedition Act]]s. The Alien Act was designed to prevent immigrants, who supported Jefferson, from gaining citizenship, and the right to vote. While the Sedition Act was designed to stifle critics of Adams. When Adams was defeated by Jefferson he began an attempt to stack the courts with [[Federalist]] judges so that his party could maintain some control of the government. One such appointment led to the landmark [[Supreme Court]] case of [[Marbury v. Madison]].

Jefferson spent much of his time as vice-president attacking Adams, even going so far as by hire journalists to write scurrilous editorials about the President. Adams passed several laws in an attempt to prevent his defeat by Jefferson in 1800. Adams passed the Alien and [[Sedition Act]]s. The Alien Act was designed to prevent immigrants, who supported Jefferson, from gaining citizenship, and the right to vote. While the Sedition Act was designed to stifle critics of Adams. When Adams was defeated by Jefferson he began an attempt to stack the courts with [[Federalist]] judges so that his party could maintain some control of the government. One such appointment led to the landmark [[Supreme Court]] case of [[Marbury v. Madison]].

Adam’s unpopularity while in office contributed to his defeat to Jefferson in 1800.

Adam’s unpopularity while in office contributed to his defeat to Jefferson in 1800.