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John Adams Theme: Birth Date: October 30, 1735 Death Date: July 4, 1826 Political Party: Federalist Term: 1797-1801 Vice President: Thomas Jefferson Rating: A- As a well known face of American history, President John Adams was the second president of the United States, graduated from Harvard University, and was the first person to abide in the famous White House. From the start, Adams was faced with countless predicaments all the way up to the end of his presidency in 1801. Although, being vice president for two terms while George Washington was in office gave him experience that helped him lead America into what is the country’s identity today. So, considering all of what he had to deal with, John Adams should earn an A-. At this point in history the United States and France’s relationship is very hostile. Leaning from George Washington’s mistakes, and with the devotion to his country, Adams stated some of his future goals for America, its’ people, and the government. He announced these goals in his Inaugural Address when he was sent into office in March of 1797. His main goal at the time was to revamp the connection between the United States and France. To do so, Adams sent some American diplomats to France to try to make peace in order to not get into a huge war. But to the reaction that the French government had came as a great shock to the American diplomats. Three French agents told the diplomats that the only way that their country would make peace with them is if they gave them money. After refusing to meet the French’s vain standards, John Adams stated to Congress that the peace mission had been catastrophic. While explaining what had happened in France, Adams referred to the three agents as the letters X, Y, and Z. This was later known as the XYZ Affair. To add onto the goals that Adams had, to have a better relationship with France, he established the Naval Department. This department, which was created on May 3, 1798, launched nearly 100 warships that were assigned to shelter the American ships and to attack the French. This turned out as a significant success for the Americans because by around 1800 nearly 90 French ships were captured and sunk. This shaped America, and America’s identity because as a result of the Naval Department, the American ships and shipping ports/lanes were protected and unharmed. As far as the relationship between John Adams and Congress goes, it was sort of unreceptive. This was probably caused because of Adams’s political party. Being a Federalist, John Adams believed that there should be one strong central government, as well as a much less strict interpretation of the Constitution, along with the support of his followers. This didn’t fit too well with Congress, and set both John Adams and the members of Congress on the brink. So, most of the support that President Adams received was directly from his Federalist followers. President John Adams had many positive outcomes that resulted from his actions during his presidency. Perhaps the most famous and positive action that he made was the decision to try to negotiate peace with the country of France. After the Treaty of Paris has been signed, America was in a much better place. Also his actions most likely contributed to the life and connections between the United States and France today. This accomplishment that Adams made helped to sculpt the American identity. But with every positive there is usually a negative that attaches itself to the positive. In John Adams’s case, his biggest negative action of his time was the Alien and Sedition Act. This act granted the president the right to arrest anyone who was thought to be having secret classes, saying fallacious statements about the government. It also placed a heavy fine on any victim caught doing any of the previous actions. This was all an act of the Federalists, who wanted more central power in the government. The Alien and Sedition Act, some believe is what caused the thought of the First Amendment to be written out on paper. So there were many actions that intentionally ended up forming the future American identity. As a whole, President John Adams set historical achievements and blunders for future presidents to go back and take from. He shall, to most other presidents be considered the person who really put a stop to the war with France and set America back up on its’ feet again. He had also set the beginning of the ten amendments due to the Alien and Sedition Act. We know have a Bill of Rights that include the ten amendments that this country is entitled to act on as we please. Also, if Adams had not gone though with the peace treaty with France, there may have been more complications in the future between the United States and France. President John Adams definitely helped to shape the ideas of future presidents and the American people, government, and society. If President John Adams had not existed the country of America during the time of the late 1700s and early 1800s would have never been the same. Adams ended up doing more to better the country and its’ people at the end of his time in office from 1797 through 1801. The war with France had ended, the country was more of a unified group more so after his time in office, and the future president had much information and lessons that were then used to keep America going towards the future. Normally, a higher grade is given out to someone who really deserves it, and because of all that President John Adams did in influencing the American identity, people and life for the future and today he ought to earn an A-. Bibliography: Independence Hall Association. "John Adams." //ushistory.org//. Independence Hall Association, 4 July 1995. Web. 3 Sept. 2011. .
 * The American Identity**

MultiEducator. "John Adams." //American History and World History at Historycentral.com the largest and most complete history site on the web//. MultiEducator, n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2011. .

National Cable Satellite Corporation. "American Presidents: Life Portraits." //American Presidents: Life Portraits//. National Cable Satellite Corporation, n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2011. .

Woolley, John, and Gerhard Peters. "John Adams: Inaugural Address." //The American Presidency Project//. John Woolley and Gerhard Peters, n.d. Web. 3 Sept. 2011. .