John Adams

John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was the first (1789–1797) Vice President of the United States, and the second (1797–1801) President of the United States. His son, John Quincy Adams, was the sixth President of the United States (1825–1829).

Presidency

In 1796, after Washington refused to seek another term, Adams was elected president, defeating Thomas Jefferson. Although Alexander Hamilton and other Federalists had asked that equal votes be cast in the electoral college for Adams and Thomas Pinckney, the other Federalist in the contest (at least in part so that Jefferson would not become vice president) Jefferson in fact came in second and attained that office. This marked the first time that the President and Vice-President were members of opposing parties. The only other time this would happen would be when Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, nominated Andrew Johnson, a Democrat, as his Vice-President in 1864. See also: John Adams' First State of the Union Address

Related Topics:
1796 - Electoral college - Thomas Pinckney - Parties - Abraham Lincoln - Andrew Johnson - 1864 - John Adams' First State of the Union Address

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Adams's four years as president (1797–1801) were marked by the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which made the Federalist Party unpopular and led to factional strife within the party itself. Adams and Hamilton became alienated, and members of Adams's own cabinet began to look to Hamilton rather than to the president as their political chief. At the time, the United States was drawn into European military affairs such as the XYZ Affair. Adams,instead of bowing to the militant spirit aroused by these events, devoted himself to delaying war with France, against the wishes of Hamilton and his adherents, which eventually played out in the Quasi-War.

Related Topics:
1797 - 1801 - Alien and Sedition Acts - XYZ Affair - Quasi-War

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In 1800, Adams ran again as the Federalist presidential candidate, but distrust of him in his own party, the popular disapproval of the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the popularity of his opponent, Thomas Jefferson, caused his defeat. He then retired into private life.

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Cabinet

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Supreme Court appointments

Adams appointed the following Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States:

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• Bushrod Washington - 1799
• Alfred Moore - 1800
• John Marshall - Chief Justice - 1801

One of these appointments, that of John Marshall, was a last minute appointment as Adams already knew he had lost the 1800 presidential election. There was considerable friction between Jefferson, the next president, and Marshall.

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Major presidential acts

• Signed Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798
• Signed Judiciary Act of 1801

States admitted to the Union

None

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two

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