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'''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an American 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]].  

'''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an American 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]].  

In the 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 known 1800. 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.

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 known 1800. 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 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.  

In the wake of the [[Boston Massacre]] in 1770, Boston's leaders prevailed on Adams to represent the British troops. He did so, arguing that all Englishmen deserved a vigorous defense.  He pleading self defense, and won the case.  He argued that Boston would be better served if many guilty persons escaped unpunished than if one innocent one suffered. It was, he maintained, of more importance to the community “that innocence should be protected, than...that guilt should be punished.”  

In the wake of the [[Boston Massacre]] in 1770, Boston's leaders prevailed on Adams to represent the British troops. He did so, arguing that all Englishmen deserved a vigorous defense.  He pleading self defense, and won the case.  He argued that Boston would be better served if many guilty persons escaped unpunished than if one innocent one suffered. It was, he maintained, of more importance to the community “that innocence should be protected, than...that guilt should be punished.”  

   

   

In 1774, after the crisis brought on by the [[Boston Tea Party]] and the resulting [[Coercive Acts]], Adams became an advocate for American independence. Adams was one of Massachusetts’s representatives to the Continental Congress. He attracted the notice of other delegates at the [[Second Continental Congress]] as one of the first to argue for independence.

In 1774, after the crisis brought on by the [[Boston Tea Party]] and the resulting [[Coercive Acts]], Adams became an advocate for American independence. Adams was one of Massachusetts’s representatives to the Continental Congress. He attracted the notice of other delegates at the [[Second Continental Congress]] as one of the first to argue for independence.

==Vice President (1789-1797)==

==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.

In [[United States presidential election, 1789|the first Presidential election]] under the new Constitution, Adams was recalled from being ambassador to Great Britain to serve as Washington's [[Vice-President]].  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. Even in this role, he was far out of place; he was so flustered at the Senate's first meeting that he asked their advice about whether he should sit or stand on Washington's entrance.  (This was later seized upon by Democratic-Republicans eager to cast Adams as an aristocrat.)  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) ==

Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first partisan presidential election.  [[Alexander Hamilton]] was the dominant 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 of course favored Jefferson for president; they ran Aaron Burr of New York as vice-President. Adams won the mildly contested election of 1796, garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right. Since electors did not indicate which office they were voting for, by coming in second to Adams, Jefferson became his vice-president.  Their friendship had ended and they now struggled for control of the national agenda.

Washington's decision to retire from public life set the stage for the first partisan presidential election.  [[Alexander Hamilton]] was the dominant 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 of course favored Jefferson for president; they ran Aaron Burr of New York as vice-President. Adams won the mildly contested [[United States presidential election, 1796|election of 1796]], garnering 71 electoral votes to Jefferson's 68, and became president in his own right. Since electors did not indicate which office they were voting for, by coming in second to Adams, Jefferson became his vice-president.  Their friendship had ended and they now struggled for control of the national agenda.

Adam's faced the challenge of having to succeed 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. Adams spent much of his term in Massachusetts, ignoring the details of patronage and communication that are essential to build a political base.

Adam's faced the challenge of having to succeed 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. Adams spent much of his term in Massachusetts, ignoring the details of patronage and communication that are essential to build a political base.

===Running for reelection===

===Running for reelection===

Jefferson spent much of his time as vice-president attacking Adams, even hiring journalists to write scurrilous editorials about the President. Federalists fought back with new laws. The Alien Act (1798) 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 hiring journalists to write scurrilous editorials about the President. Federalists fought back by passing the [[Alien and Sedition Acts]]. The Alien Act was designed to prevent immigrants, who supported Jefferson, from gaining citizenship, and the right to vote; the Sedition Act was designed to stifle critics of Adams. However, the attempts backfired; when Congressman [[Matthew Lyons]] was prosecuted under the Sedition Act, he and the Republicans became national heroes.  In the [[United States presidential election, 1800|election of 1800]], Jefferson overwhelmingly beat Adams.

 

While a [[lame duck]] President, Adams tried 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]].

The Adams' were the first residents of the [[White House]]. They moved in November 1800.

The Adams' were the first residents of the [[White House]]. They moved in November 1800.

==see also==

==see also==

* [[Federalist Party]]

* [[Federalist Party]]

==Further reading==

==Further reading==