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==Diplomat==
==Diplomat==
Adams served the Continental Congress as a diplomat, remaining abroad for a decade, from 1778 to 1788. Originally posted to France, he served in Paris with [[Benjamin Franklin]]. Franklin felt that Adams' blunt style and lack of understanding of European diplomatic process harmed the American effort. After France, Adams was posted to the Netherlands, where he secured a large war loan to help the patriot cause. Adams chaired the American delegation that drew up the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, which formally ended the [[American Revolution]].
Adams served the Continental Congress as a diplomat, remaining abroad for a decade, from 1778 to 1788. Originally posted to France, he served in Paris with [[Benjamin Franklin]]. Franklin felt that Adams' blunt style and lack of understanding of European diplomatic process harmed the American effort. After France, Adams was posted to the Netherlands, where he secured a large war loan to help the patriot cause. Adams chaired the American delegation that drew up the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, which formally ended the [[American Revolution]].
==Vice President (1789-1797)==
The role of Vice President was not an easy one for Adams; he told Abigail, "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived". His only job was to serve as presiding officer ("president") of the Senate, in which his only duty was to cast tie-breaking votes. His relationship with President Washington was friendly, but Washington rarely asked him for his counsel. All of this was frustrating to Adams, who was a man of action and not shy about letting his opinions be known. Adams cast 29 tie-breaking votes, a record that still stands today.
== Presidency (1797-1801) ==
== Presidency (1797-1801) ==
Adams returned home after the adoption of [[the Constitution]]. He served as the first [[vice president]] in the U.S. history from 1789 to 1797. George Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first truly partisan presidential election. Alexander Hamilton was the true leader of the Federalists. However he made many political enemies during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury. The Federalists decided to run Adams as their presidential candidate and Thomas Pinckney for the office of vice-president. The Republicans selected their leader, Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as vice-President. Adams won the bitterly contested [[United States presidential election, 1796|Presidential Election of 1796]], garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right.
Adams returned home after the adoption of [[the Constitution]]. He served as the first [[vice president]] in the U.S. history from 1789 to 1797. George Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first truly partisan presidential election. Alexander Hamilton was the true leader of the Federalists. However he made many political enemies during his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury. The Federalists decided to run Adams as their presidential candidate and Thomas Pinckney for the office of vice-president. The Republicans selected their leader, Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as vice-President. Adams won the bitterly contested [[United States presidential election, 1796|Presidential Election of 1796]], garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right.
However, in 1796 electors did not indicate which office they were voting for. By coming in second to Adams, Jefferson became his vice-president. Before the 1804 election, the twelfth amendment would require electors to designate which office they were voting for.
However, in 1796 electors did not indicate which office they were voting for. By coming in second to Adams, Jefferson became his vice-president. Before the 1804 election, the twelfth amendment would require electors to designate which office they were voting for.