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Amanda Chan  February 10, 2013   AP United States History   Presidential Analysis – John Adams

John Adams – Globalization

October 30, 1735 in Quincy, Massachusetts – July 4, 1826 in Quincy, Massachusetts

Political Party: Federalist

Term: March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801

Vice President: Thomas Jefferson

** Thematic Context **
==== Throughout American history, globalization plays a significant role in the United State’s affairs, and during Adams’s presidency, globalization is a stunted rose, as it is not flourishing when Adams chokes it with the Alien and Sedition Acts. Adams was in fear of an American revolution that would be inspired by the French Revolution, so in order to prevent immigrants or foreigners from influencing the American civilians to rebel, Adams pushed for the passage of these laws that would make it more difficult or unpleasant for foreigners to move to America. The prevention of immigrants to America was stunt the diversity and globalization in the United States, as the United States citizens would not learn about those who immigrated from other countries. To Adams’s defense, however, he was adamant in his attempt to establish diplomacy with the French. The Convention of 1800 established peace from the French and American Quasi-War, and because of this treaty signing, the United States was able to remain neutral in the war between France and Britain. Though it was part of Adams’s goal to be peaceful, this lack of war did not give Americans the opportunity to globalize as the existence of a war would. Thus, Adams’s actions did not catalyze globalization; if anything, he stunted them. ====

** Thesis **
==== A strong Federalist, a veteran Patriot, and the second President of the United States, John Adams was often acclaimed as a hard-working, honest man who had to follow in the footsteps of the very popular George Washington. In his Inaugural Address, Adams wants the United States to have better relations with the French and as a Federalist, he wanted to work towards unifying the states. Despite his intentions, Adams actually increases the tensions with France through the unfortunate XYZ affair, where the French made demands for money that Adams did not want to meet. However, Adams did refuse to declare with France in spite of strong advice to do so. Adams also passed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts, which limited the rights of foreigners and immigrants and limited free speech against the government. Because of this infringement of Constitutional rights and the lack of judiciary review in the Supreme Court, Adams was not popular enough to be elected for a second term. Because of Adam’s misunderstanding with the French and his passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, Adams deserves a B-. ====

** Goals **
==== In his Inaugural Address, Adams states that he wants to have peace with the French, this being his main goal for his Presidency. Adams speaks of “ a personal esteem for the French nation, formed in a residence of seven years chiefly among them, and a sincere desire to preserve the friendship which has been so much for the honor and interest of both nations.” By this, Adams means that he wants to stay “friends” with the French because it is in the best interest in both nations. More importantly, it is in the best interest of the United States, because John Adams was afraid of a war with France because of cost. As a Federalist, Adams wanted to unify the states, and he indirectly accomplished this through the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws oppressed all of the states, and some of the states banded together in an effort to protest these oppressive laws. For example, Kentucky and Virginia both passed laws in their state legislatures that ruled federal laws invalid in their states. ====

** Relationship With Congress **
==== John Adams had an ideal relationship Congress, as Congress did mostly what Adams asked of them, because Adams was successfully making Federalists popular, which a majority of the Congress were Federalists. Afterall, Adams’ presidency did happen during the Federalist Era, and the Federalists were dominant in American government. For example, despite much criticism, Congress passed the controversial Alien and Sedition Act under Adams’s presidency. For that matter, Congress also refused to appeal those acts; they instead stuck with Adams’s directions. Congress also approved Adams’s requests for a peacetime military and an expansion of the navy, when Adams was in fear of war with the French. ====

** Positive Outcome **
==== John Adams’s smartest move was the Convention of 1800 and signing the Treaty of Mortefontaine. On the surface level, Adams saved the United States a lot of money by not participating in an full-out war, but on a deeper level, Adams saved the somewhat politically divided United States from potential demolition, as the French or British could have easily gotten involved in fighting on American soil, which would have not boded well with the Americans. ====

** Negative Outcome **
==== John Adams’s most unbeneficial move was the passage of the Sedition Act, which barred any American citizen from writing or speaking out against the government. This was a poor decision on Adams’s part, because not only did it infringe upon some of the citizens’ Constitutional Rights, but it also caused some of the states to rally against Adams. ====

** Influential Decision **
==== Adams passing the Sedition Act caused an uproar that would reverberate into future presidencies. Virginia and Kentucky refused to obey the Sedition Act, and their own state legislatures passed laws that said that they didn’t have to follow the federal law. Though it was not a big problem for Adams besides the obvious harsh criticism, these resolutions that defy the laws of the federal government play huge roles in later presidencies when states continue to question the authority of the federal government. ====

** Conclusion **
==== Adams receives a B+ because though he did not make all the right decisions, he managed to achieve his goal in establishing peace with France and he did inadvertently united the states by imposing a violating federal law upon them. At the beginning of Adams’s presidency, the States are tottering on war with France and Adams’s aimed to correct that with diplomacy, even if his plan backfired. He did not receive a higher grade because his fear of revolution and his strong belief in Federalism led him to pass the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were disregarding the rights of the civilians and ultimately led to the loss of his second term. ====

Adams, John. "Inaugural Address In the City of Philadelphia." Bartleby.com. Bartleby.com, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .
 * Bibliography **

"American President: John Adams." MillerCenter.org. Miller Center, 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

"John Adams." Armstrong-History. Wikimedia, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

"John Adams." The White House: President Barack Obama. The White House, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .

"MILESTONES: 1784-1800." Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. .