John Adams• Second President

of the United States– 1797-1801

• Federalist• Massachusetts

John Adams• Born October 30th, 1735- Died July 4th, 1826• Delegate:

– 1st Continental Congress 1774– 2nd Continental Congress 1775-1778

• Signer of the Declaration of Independence• Ambassador:

– To The Netherlands 1782– To England 1785-1788

• Vice President:– To George Washington 1789-1797

John Adams Successes

• Establishment and build-up of the US Navy

• Negotiating the end of hostility with France (Quasi-War 1798-1800)

• Nomination of Chief Justice John Marshall

John Adams Successes• Establishment and build-up of the US

Navy– Leading advocates for the creation of a

Continental Navy– Drafted the first set of rules and regulations

for the new navy– Convinced Congress to pass an “Act

Providing a Naval Armament,” – Above provided for the equipping of three

frigates: the Constitution, the United States, and the Constellation

John Adams Successes

• Negotiating the end of hostility with France (Quasi-War 1798-1800)– Treaty of Mortefontaine, prevented a

disastrous all-out war with France

• Nomination of Chief Justice John Marshall– One of the Most influential Courts– Oversaw numerous cases which strengthened

the power of the S.C. (Marbury v. Madison), as well as the Federal government

John Adams Failures

• Fighting the Quasi-War with France

• Levy of direct tax to increase the size of the Army led to Fries’ Rebellion

• Alien and Sedition Acts –Led to the infringement of civil liberties,

and would have been deemed unconstitutional

John Adams Failures• Fought the Quasi-War with France

– Held to Washington’s ideal of isolation and refused to uphold the United States’ previous treaty of cooperation, thus angering the French

– Leaked the XYZ Affair to the press which established anti-French fervor

• Levied a direct tax to increase the size of the Army led to Fries’ Rebellion– Eastern PA farmers upset = direct taxation– Led to a non-violent rebellion– Called for a rededication to Revolutionary Ideals

“The Paris Monster”“Cinque-tetes, or the Paris Monster” is the title of this political cartoon satirizing the XYZ Affair. On the right, the five members of the French Directory, or ruling executive body, are depicted as a five-headed monster demanding money. The three American representatives, Elbridge Gerry, Charles Pinckney, and John Marshall, are on the left, exclaiming “Cease bawling, monster! We will not give you six-pence!”

John Adams Failures

• Passed the Alien and Sedition Acts – Led to the infringement of civil liberties, and

would/should have been deemed unconstitutional

– Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions • Exposed the political division of the Republicans

and Federalists• Established the political doctrine of Nullification

John Adams Conclusion (Failure)

• Although John Adams strengthened the United States military, his administration failed because of his staunch isolationist policy which brought about hostilities with France, he signed the Alien and Sedition Acts and appointed John Marshall to the Supreme Court, all of which increased the divisiveness of American society politically and socially.

John Adams Conclusion (Success)

• While John Adams inherited a troubling divided America, he was successful in managing the difficulties he faced because he improved the size and strength of the armed forces in response to French hostility, he oversaw a peaceful end to those hostilities and he appointed Federalist John Marshall to the Supreme Court, thus Adams influenced American government for decades after his administration.

Bibliography• http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=10322;

Contributions to the Navy and Portrait• http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?inde

x=A000039; Biographical Background

• http://millercenter.org/president/adams; Events of Presidency and Legacy

• Kurtz, Stephen. The Presidency of John Adams (1957); Analysis of Marshall Appointment

• Miller, John Chester. Crisis in Freedom: The Alien and Sedition Acts (1951); Analysis of Alien and Sedition Acts

Bibliography

• http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/fr1800.asp; Text of the Treaty of Mortefontaine

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/nsc/; Seal of the President of the United States

• http://historymartinez.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/the-paris-monster-xyz-political-cartoon.docx; Political Cartoon Image and Analysis