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John Adams Lived from: October 30, 1735-July 4, 1826 Presidential Term: 1797-1801 Political Party: Federalist Vice President: Thomas Jefferson, 1797-1801

John Adams, the second president of the United States, I believe deserves a C for his presidential term. Refusing to agree to the French's demands a war broke out that ended up dragging out during the majority of his term. He also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, although he did not believe in what they did. John Adams also deeply divided the Federalist party when he was forced to name certain people to power who ended up going against the instructions they were given by John Adams. However he did help calm down the disputes with the French and finally made a U.S. Navy.

A very big goal that John Adams wanted to accomplish during his presidency was to settle disputes with the French.The XYZ Affair was supposed to settle disputes with the French but it ended up leading to an undeclared naval war, called the Quasi War. John Adams also wanted to build up the U.S. Navy which was succesfully built up very strong by the end of his term. A big goal that John Adams had was to make sure that his presidency led the example of republican values and stressing civic virtue. He was able to keep up this goal by continuing with all of the major programs of the Washington Administration. Overall John Adams goals were completed but not in a very good manner.

John Adams relationship with Congress did not go as smoothly as it could have gone. Much of the Congress was of the Democratic-Republican party and Adams was a Federalist. Most of his term Adams did what he wanted and what he thought was best for the country. For instance, whenever the topic of the disputes with France cane up he continually said that war was the last option. He wanted to settle the disputes through negotiation, even though it was the exact opposite of what most people wanted. The negotiations did work even though it took a bit longer than expected.

The action made by John Adams with the most negative outcome was who he decided to lead the army. Adams made Washington the commander of the new army. Washington himself did not do a bad job, however he insisted that Hamilton got the second position. Ever since Adams won in the election Hamilton wanted a chance to ruin his term. When given the second position he was given that chance. General Hamilton immediatlly took complete control of the War department. Hamilton refused to consult with Adams over the key legislation of 1798. He also changed the defense measures that Adams called for. Hamilton refused to recognize the necessity of giving key Democratic-Republicans senior positions in the army which lost the Democratic-Republican support that Adams was hoping for. Adams ended up going back to his home in Massachusetts since all his war instructions were dismissed. Adams eventually sent William Vans to France where the Treaty of Alliance was signed. Adams did avoid war, but in all of this he deeply split his own party.

The action made by John Adams with the most positive outcome was the XYZ Affair. The XYZ Affair did lead to the Quasi War, but the war did finally settle the disputes with France. Adams sent three negotiators over to France to try to make up some sort of alliance. The French however were not going to go along with it unless all their demands were met. They demanded for 50,000 pound sterling, a $10 million loan from the United States, a $250,000 personal bribe to the French foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, and a formal apology for comments made by John Adams. Adams did not agree to these terms so the undeclared naval war broke out. This war lasted from 1797-1800. In 1800 Adams again sent negotiators over to France and this time the Treaty of Mortefontaine was drawn up and it ended all hostilites. Even though this war lasted for most of Adams term it did end all disputes which made life in America calmer.

One decision that made an influence on future administrations was the signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts was composed by four different parts: The Naturalization Act, The Alien Act, The Alien Enemies Act, and The Sedition Act. The Naturalization act was thought to decrease the number of Republican votes because most of the immigrants voted Republican. The Alien Act and the Alien Enemies Act went hand in hand. They gave the president authority to deport any foreigner they felt were dangerous to the country. The Sedition Act made it a crime to write false accusations against the government or its officials. The Alien and Sedition Acts were rarely enforced and Adams never signed a deportation order. Most aliens left voluntarily out of fear of the Federalist party. By the time the election of 1800 came around the parties feared eachother and their policies.

If it was not for the settle of the French dispute the country would have ended up in worse shape after his term than before. He left with the Federalist party now completely divided and everybody feared people who were not in the same party as they were. This brings back the fact that I believe he deserves a C for his presidential term.

Bibliography: "John Adams." __Wikipedia.__ 29 Jan 2010. Wed 3 Feb 2010. []

"John Adams." __The White House.__ Wed 3 Feb 2010. []