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John Adams (1735-1826)   Federalist Party Term (1797-1801) Vice President-Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801) Thematic Context Citizenship during John Adams time as president was set in stone with rules taking on rights and boundaries. The dealings with the French and foreigners coming in to the United States impacted the laws regarding immigrants. The rights that immigrants obtained can be said to be largely influenced to the presidential election, since the majority of foreigners voted for the Democratic-Republicans and not the Federalists. The Naturalization Act and the Alien Acts were oppressive and what motivated the Act was largely political instead of ethical. Nobody was deported, but the question of how strong the federal government could be was asked. This development was great during John Adams presidency as it allowed him to not be reelected the following year and that can be said to lead the Federalist Party to end many years later. The stressful feelings of a war with France was prominent and the fact that during John Adams presidency the United States basically switched sides in who to aid with brought confusion and questions. The Sedition Acts then were passed and anger spread. This whole situation reflected with the laws regarding individual’s rights and the other development was what laws can come interfere with the constitution. The people’s freedom of speech was practically taken away. Their ability to criticize the government was destroyed. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions put an end to the Sedition Acts and led to the election of Thomas Jefferson. The developments of the individual’s rights and states right and the constrictions of the federal government took place and affected the presidency largely with what it can do. Thesis John Adams deserves a B- for his actions as president, which means that while he did good things he also made very poor decisions. For one thing, he intelligently did not go to war with France and “made” peace with Britain. There was a quasi-war going on with France and he evaded any official war. While the XYZ Affair seemed like it would not be completed, the negotiations ended up being made. The public is what escalated a call for war with France and John Adams set up a Navy department to defend America. France never went to war with America even though events leading toward one were great. But the defensive actions that John Adams set were very smart. In terms of foreign problems, John Adams did well, but in the country he did not. The Alien and Sedition Acts were hated and in direct violation with the Constitution. Some people were put in jail, because of libel and this was spoke outrage. John Adams made the federal government too strong. This cost him reelection. These reasons are why he deserves a B-, he did well with preventing a full scale war, but did not do so well with the American public. Goals John Adams addresses unity between the states. America is still a young country and there is tension in Europe between France and Britain, so one of the goals was peace and neutrality. He wanted to make peace between America and France so that America can still trade with them which lead to the XYZ Affair. He talks about happiness and promoting the well being of the country. He says he wants to have the states be more powerful and he succeeded in a weird way. John Adams wanted to serve America the best he could, he realized everything America did and could stand for. He saw the potential and wanted the best for the people and the states rights even though his actions prove otherwise. He wanted to give what was written in the preamble and improve education for the American people. As president he wanted peace, but also wanted America to be its own country and not derive too much influence from foreign nations. He knew how separated people could become because of religion, but he wanted America to be in good relation concerning itself.

Relationship with Congress The relationship between Congress and John Adams was a shaky one. He would please and displease the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans. To put the relationship into simple parts; he worked on foreign affairs mostly by himself with no pressure from the parties, but he agreed to the Federalist parties laws like the Alien and Sedition Acts. The Democratic-Republicans did not want to go to war with France, but the way the events lead to another it seemed that peace was impossible. France ended up not wanting to go to war and the Federalists were not pleased. The Federalists did get what they wanted with the Alien and Sedition Acts. This was a largely political movement to silence writers from speaking out against the government. This ended John Adams not getting reelected and was the last time a Federalist was in office. He deserves a C+ for not really listening to Congress, but doing okay.

Accomplishments John Adams had many accomplishments in his one term in office, but the one that he really earned was evading war France. He sent in three agents to negotiate with France, but a Frenchmen had asked them to pay him so they can negotiate. The American people were outraged, and wanted to go to war. They developed a saying, “millions for defense, not a cent for tribute.” Fortunately, one of the men stayed there after two left, so negotiations can be made. They still had naval battles, but no official war. Thus it became known as the quasi-war. There was tension between the political parties on whether to go to war with France. Nonetheless, John Adams still developed America’s Navy and developed a stronger military defense in general. France decided to not go to war with America and that was wonderful for America as it was still very young, and is still recovering from its Revolutionary War.

Failures John Adams biggest downfall was the pass of the Alien and Sedition Acts. He would be able to deport anybody that was deemed a threat to the country, but that never came to be. The immigrants that would come in would largely vote for Democratic-Republicans so the Federalists raised their voting rights from five years to fourteen years. This wouldn’t matter as the Naturalization Act was repealed as soon as Jefferson went in office. The Sedition Acts were the large political laws to sever freedom of speech. Benjamin Franklin’s grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, was one of the big names that were arrested for libel under the Sedition Act. Other people were arrested and many of the writers felt that this law was in direct violation of the Constitution, and some were arrested for criticizing this very law. These laws backfired in trying to restrict the press’s voice against the government. After Jefferson was elected, he released everyone that was arrested. Influence John Adams impacted Americans by not going to war with France and by enacting the Alien and Sedition Acts. He believed in the government having power over the states, but as it turned out in his term that will never be the case. First, the effects of not going to war with France would let Jefferson not have to go into his term with a war. Adams made the right choice by not fighting the French in a declared war otherwise Jefferson might not have made the Louisiana Purchase as quickly as he did. John Adams made states rights more powerful by the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions even though he made no part of them, but Jefferson helped them. This would lead to the states secession from the nation which would lead to the Civil War. The individual’s rights for freedom of speech were challenged, because of the Sedition Acts. Many people like to think of this as the Patriot Act. Individual’s rights are questioned to this very day.

Conclusion John Adams made the country better for foreign affairs, but not domestic. He achieved his goal for peace like many other Presidents dream for, so the country was better military wise. John Adams set up a Navy which is obviously important, and made a better army. The country was not so good internally though. The political parties seemed to be fighting each other and the states rights were lessened, but strengthened because of the Sedition Acts. So the country bounced back from a negative event to a stronger country. But the fact that this law should not have passed shows how low John Adams went in popularity and that the country was mad at having their rights taken away. So John Adams deserves a B- for his role as president, he had a strong opinion and would not bow to pressure, and kept to his morals, but he still made bad decisions.

__Bibliography__

"Miller Center." //American President: John Adams: Impact and Legacy//. MillerCenterUniversity of Virgina, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

"Miller Center." //American President: John Adams: Foreign Affairs//. Miller Center University of Virgina, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

Lynch, Jack. "History.org: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's Official History and Citizenship Website." //The Alien and Sedition Acts : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site//. Colonial Williamsburg, 2007. Web. 10 Feb.

John Adams: "Inaugural Address," March 4, 1797. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. "John Adams." //The White House//. The White House, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.