A Brief Summary of John Adams and His Presidency

Vice President under George Washington 2 nd President of US ( )

Abigail Adams – Wife Known for her correspondence with John Adams Her letters provide eyewitness accounts of important events during her husband’s political career

John Adams – Age 31 Prominent lawyer in Boston before the American Revolution

Adams (shown in the center with his hand on his hip) was an important member of the Continental Congress Was part of the five man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration of Independence Nicknamed the “Atlas of Independence”

Adams had an independent spirit He refused to compromise when he thought he was right Was sometimes seen as vain, blunt, and impatient

France was harassing American ships The US sent 3 delegates to meet with the French Foreign Minister Charles- Maurice de Talleyrand (seen here) Three French officials (whom Adams called Mr. X, Mr. Y, and Mr. Z) demanded bribes from the American delegates Was seen as a huge insult to the US XYZ Affair

Quasi-War As a result of the XYZ Affair, an unofficial naval war commenced between the US and France from Many called for a declaration of war, but Adams is credited with keeping the US from having an all-out war with France

Acts passed by Congress and signed into law by Adams Alien Acts increased the amount of time immigrants had to live in the US to become citizens an allowed the president to detain or expel immigrants considered dangerous –Was aimed at French immigrants who were supporting Democratic- Republicans (his rival political party) Sedition Act made it illegal to criticize Congress or the president –A clear violation of the 1 st amendment freedoms of speech and the press –The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were issued which said that states could nullify (consider void) laws that were unconstitutional Alien and Sedition Acts

Adams was defeated in the Election of 1800 by Thomas Jefferson Adams and Jefferson had once been friends, but had a falling out due to political differences They forgave each other and renewed their friendship in 1812 –After this, they wrote 158 letters to each other Both men died on July 4, 1826 (the 50 th anniversary of the issuing of the Declaration of Independence) John Adams final words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” Thomas Jefferson John Adams

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Picture Sources All pictures in this presentation are in the public domain (excluding logos) Presidential Portrait By John Trumbull - whha/action/viewHome, Public Domain, Abigail Adams By Benjamin Blythe - Uploaded by en:User:Mwanner, Public Domain, Portrait By en:Benjamin Blyth (1819–1866) oren:Benjamin Blyth II (1849–1917) - Massachusetts Historical Society, Public Domain, Continental Congress By John Trumbull - US Capitol, Public Domain, Portrait By en:Mather Brown (1761–1831) - The Boston Athenaeum, Public Domain, Talleyrand By Pierre-Paul Prud'hon - AllPosters.com, Public Domain, Naval battle By Rear Admiral John William Schmidt (Ret.) ( ) - Original source: Navy History and Heritage Command, National Archive ID# 428-KN-2882., Public Domain, Sedition Act By United States Federal Government - Public Domain, Portrait By Gilbert Stuart - Own work, user:Rlbberlin, Public Domain, Thomas Jefferson By Rembrandt Peale - whha/action/viewHome, Public Domain,

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