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== 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.  

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.

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.  

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.  

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.

===Foreign Affairs===

===Foreign Affairs===

Adams continued the Washington'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 Britian. Instead Adams wanted to send a bipartisan commission to France that included [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[James Madison]], however they both refused.  

Adams continued the Washington's policy of neutrality in the on going war between Britain and France, selling supplies to both sides. Federalists were pushing for a war against France and closer ties to Britian. Adams wanted peace, but was caught up in the storm of events.  

The French were openly seizing American ships, leading to an undeclared war known as the [[Quasi-War]] of 1798-99.  Adams sent diplomats to meet with the [[French Directory]], only to be refused an audience and commercial relations were suspended. In 1798, the French demanded American diplomats pay huge bribes in order to see the French Foreign Minister [[Talleyrand]], which the diplomats rejected. The Jeffersonian Republicans, suspicious of Adams, demanded the documentation, which Adams released using X, Y and Z as codes for the names of the French diplomats. A wave of nationalist sentiment overwhelmed the U.S. Congress approved Adams' plan to organize the navy. Adams reluctantly signed the Alien and Sedition Act as a wartime measure.   

The French were openly seizing American ships, leading to an undeclared war known as the [[Quasi-War]] of 1798-99.  Adams sent diplomats to meet with the [[French Directory]], only to be refused an audience and commercial relations were suspended. In 1798, the French demanded American diplomats pay huge bribes in order to see the French Foreign Minister [[Talleyrand]], which the diplomats rejected. The Jeffersonian Republicans, suspicious of Adams, demanded the documentation, which Adams released using X, Y and Z as codes for the names of the French diplomats. A wave of nationalist sentiment overwhelmed the U.S. Congress approved Adams' plan to organize the navy. Adams reluctantly signed the Alien and Sedition Act as a wartime measure.