Kym+O.

** October 30, 1735- July 4, 1826  ** ** Federalist Party  ** ** March 4, 1797- March 4, 1801  ** ** Thomas Jefferson  **
 * John Adams **

During John Adams presidency, American Identity was changed by the XYZ Affair and by the Alien and Sedition Acts. After news got out about the attempted extortion of American Diplomats by the French, the American public despised the French. The Citizens cried “Millions for defense but not a cent for tribute.” This benefited John Adams and his Federalist party greatly in the eyes of the public and American loyalty shifted away from being Pro-France. However the Alien and Sedition Acts changed America drastically. President John Adams signed four bills that not trumped over the rights of immigrants but also stomped on Americans First Amendment rights to the freedoms of speech and of press. These acts aimed at silencing the Republicans from discrediting the president. American citizens did not like this series of Acts and Matthew Lyon a Vermont Congressmen even went far enough to say that “the president should be sent to a madhouse,” he was then appropriately fined and imprisoned. Over the course of his presidency, John Adams made decisions that changed America forever. While he sometimes became to caught up in the party system, John Adams placed the countries needs over the federalists and seen as his dealing with France and Quasi-War. While in office he also decimated the peoples first Amendment rights with the Sedition Acts. As a whole John Adams and his administration deserve a B as the grade for their time in office **. ** In his inaugural address, John Adams stated his goal was to uphold the constitution. Another goal of his was to repair the broken relationship between the United States and France. Constitutionally, he failed with the Alien and Sedition Acts. These acts trampled over the rights of immigrants in America working toward naturalization by increasing the requirements to become a United States citizen but they also gave the president the power to deport and/or imprison “aliens.” The sedition acts, demolished the idea of freedom of speech and of press by making it punishable by heavy fine and jail time to write or speak against the president or congress. On the other hand, John Adams eventually succeeded at his goal to improve relations with France. Even though the relationship was even more strained after the XYZ affair, it was eventually mended by the treaty referred to as the “Convention of 1800”
 * Thematic Content **
 * Thesis **
 * Goals **

During John Adams’ presidency, federalists held a majority of the seats in the bicameral legislature. This being the case, the relationship between John Adams and the legislative branch was a good one, the seldom fought over things and Adams never used his power of veto. An example of his relationship with congress would be the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts which are plainly unconstitutional but passed because they silenced the Jeffersonian Republicans.
 * Relationship with Congress **

John Adams’ most positive decision would have to be his betterment of the relationship between the United States and France.While John Adams was weighing his options, he must have considered how a full-fledged war with France would benefit not only him but his federalist party. Instead, he put the best interests of his country ahead of those of his political party and resolved America’s relationship with France.
 * Positive Decsion **

The most negative decision made by John Adams would have to be the passing of the Aliens and Sedition Acts. These were the Naturalization Act, the Aliens Act, the Alien Enemies Act and the Sedition Act. The first three acts all related to immigrants or aliens that were mostly pro-Jeffersonian, they made it harder to become a citizen and gave the president power to deport them if they were considered dangerous or if we were in a time of war. The sedition acts were even worse, they forbade anyone from speaking, or writing badly about the president or congress. These acts demolished the First Amendment rights of the citizens of the United States.
 * Negative Decision **

John Adams made many decisions that had a lasting effect on America, but by far the most influential would have the to be the the treaty made with France in 1800. If John Adams had declared war, the already weak, young America would have been demolished by France and the new government, economy, and identity would crumble. To add to that, if John Adams had not made peace with France, it would have been near impossible for Jefferson to make the Louisiana purchase that he is so well known for.
 * Influence on the Future **

In summation, at the end of John Adams’ term in 1801 America was better off than when it started. John Adams solved many of the Nations issues but became too biased with his party, making decisions that were not always the best for the country. In the end John Adams and his administration deserve the grade of a B for their four years in office.
 * Conclusion **