Amanda+S.+-+JA+-+FA10

** -John Adams- ** //Date of Birth: October 30, 1735 | Date of Death: July 4, 1826 Term of Office: March 1797 - March 1801 Vice President: Thomas Jefferson Political Party: Federalist//

John Adams was both a stubborn and inspirational man, shown greatly while he was in office as both vice president to George Washington and president himself. The majority of his decisions were not just for his benefit, but for the betterment of his country; in turn, he left the more decisive, domestic affairs to his administration while he focused on the affairs with other countries. These acts made him both a respectable man and also a very determined man. While the most crucial conclusions were often looked down upon and were viewed semi-harshly, his attitude and personality helped ease tensions, which is why John Adams deserves the grade of a B-.

Beginning from his role as vice president to George Washington, John Adams had two goals in mind he was ready to devotedly work towards as president, first of which was foreign alliances. Generally speaking, America was on good terms with most nations, but since the end of the Revolutionary War, France had not been able to see eye-to-eye with America. Adams saw this as a major problem, considering they were the country to readily jump on the wagon with the colonists and fight for their independence. During France's revolution, Adams issued several "top" members of his administration to Paris in hopes of reconnecting the thin strings holding them together. Unfortunately, France was not interested in working things out at the time, but because of his perseverance, John Adams was able to come to terms with the French government and sign a peace treaty between the two nations.

Another important goal Adams had in mind was the state of the Federalist party. Adams was a strong opposer to the views of the party, which often made decisions difficult, as Jefferson was a member of the Republican party. It also had not helped Adams knowing that the majority of his country didn't support his cause and often judged him based on his Federalist ideas. Thinking that a republic-centered government would give too much control in areas not needed, John Adams believed a central government was more suitable for the needs of America. This goal was not as strong and supportive as Adams' other; once Jefferson took office after Adams, the Federalist "movement" was pushed aside and the Republican party was highly valued.

John Adams got along fairly well with Congress. As mentioned, Adams felt it best to take foreign affairs issues under his wing, while he made sure Congress was able to handle domestic affairs. Even though he kept as far away as possible from these issues, he wasn't completely detached. He remained in contact with Congress and was there to pass laws that he felt were best and logical for the country. For example, when Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, it wasn't because it was something new and that he felt like torturing certain people- he allowed it because at that point, it supported his attempt at predominating over the Republican side.

Adams' highest point while in office was his continued willingness to straighten out the ties between America and France. Even before becoming vice president or president, his ideas were well respected and led to him being elected in both the first and second Continental Congress, elected into the Massachusetts Assembly, and granted the honor of (eventually) being named an ambassador to the French Court, replacing Silas Deane. He made a smart choice in not engaging in a naval war against the French directly after the American Revolution, knowing that executing the plan would result in even more dangerously-severed ties. This lone decision proposed just how strongly Adams believed in peace. Once the French realized he was not trying to engage in war, and was serious about reconnecting their alliance they once had, the two came together to create a bond where they would remain loyal nations to each other.

The worst part of Adams' term was most definitely the Alien and Sedition Acts passed in 1798. These acts contained four separate laws, with three directed fully towards the immigrants who elected and voted for Democratic-Republic leaders, not Federalists. The first law was the Naturalization Act. The standard length of time to be considered a citizen of America was five years; under this new law, however, there was a required fourteen years before anyone was considered a rightful citizen. Under the Alien Act, any immigrants belonging to the enemy in a time of war could be detained without a trial. Slightly different, the Alien Enemies Act gave Adams the right to suspend potentially dangerous aliens out of the country for however long he so wished. Finally, the Sedition Act banished any act of conspiracy in avoidance of federal laws being enforced. During the two years of this new law (in 1798 and 1799), hundreds of aliens fled the country on their own will, not wanting to be humiliated or tortured by the new stipulations. While Adams was very adamant about his pro-Federalist and anti-Republican efforts, these actions changed quite a few people's perceptions of him, and might have cost him his re-election votes.

It is fair to say that John Adams had many pros and cons of his term in office. And while it would be obvious to pick a law or act that had inspired and "set the bar" for future administrations, it could be said that Adams' overall personality and beliefs had influenced the future peoples of America. Adams was someone who could be relied on to base the majority of his decisions off of reason. He tried to never make a mistake in doing something wrong for his country, and was always looking for ways to improve the status of America. He had the talent and confidence of a natural leader. And, above all else, John Adams actively seeked and achieved peace. He attempted many times to find that common ground again between America and France, and never gave up. Perhaps it was his determination to resolve everything with peace that had inspired many others who succeeded, but more importantly, his attitude of persevering and "never giving up" had helped many people, whether it be in a political position, as in convincing Congress of accepting or rejecting a new bill or law, or an everyday role, such as raising a family and struggling to do the right thing in the hardest of situations. John Adams can be viewed as one of the earliest role models the nation had and continued to look upon.

Balancing out Adams' few setbacks with his integrity and strong yet "peaceful" personality, he should be awarded a grade of a B-. His Alien and Sedition laws had shaped the future of Jefferson's years in office, as well as other "inheritors" of office. Adams' willingness to continue to fight for peace with not only France but other countries as well took a great amount of pressure off of America's shoulders, and it prevented them from enduring another frightful war so soon after their newly-founded nation; as a country who just gained their independence, they may not have had the strong unity to go through yet another heavily-fought war. All of these factors are reminders of how well Adams influenced the future generations, and that America was better off after his term than before he took office. John Adams was viewed as a top president of his time and remains today as one of the most influential presidents in American history.

"2. John Adams 1797-1801." __The White House__. 4 February 2010. . Kindig, Thomas. "John Adams." __US History__. 2010. 4 February 2010. . Taylor, C. James. "John Adams (1735-1826)." __Miller Center of Public Affairs__. 2009. 4 February 2010. <[]>.
 * Bibliography:**