In the Revolutionary period, John Adams was a leader who was one of the founding fathers and advocate for the independence of America. He was a member of the Continental Congress. During the Revolutionary war, Adams served in France and Holland as a diplomatic role. After George Washington was elected as the President, he was put under Washington as the first Vice President. After Washington’s presidency, Adams, who was apart of the Federalists, got elected as President on March 4th, 1797 with Thomas Jefferson, his friend and rival as Vice President. John Adams was well known for his aloofness, and demonstrated passionate patriotism for America, he was also an independent man who did not care for the opinion of the public; except his wife
Adams was criticized by both parties: his own, the Federalists and the Republicans. He was also called a warmonger and an indecisive leader during wartime; along with his uncontrollable temper, he would make rash decisions without consulting his cabinet members (Gevinson). Britain and America signed the Jay’s Treaty in 1794, and it caused France to be highly unsatisfied ("Thomas Jefferson 's Monticello"). As a result in 1796, the French began to snatch or capture American merchant ships by surprise (“Milestones: 1784–1800 - Office of the Historian").However, the Foreign Minister decided to not be cooperative and instead insulted the American envoys; this incident became known as the XYZ affairs, and it, “sparked a white-hot reaction within the United States” ( “John Adams: Foreign Affairs”). President Adams requested Congress to to create a navy because the protecting American commerce was the top priority (Magill 46). Adams was in an unofficial war with France: Quasi War. Yet in the meantime, peace negotiations were also being held in France. In the Convention of 1800 or Treaty of Mortefontaine, peace was restored between America and France ("Milestones: 1784–1800 - Office of the Historian”). Adams’ goal was avoiding full scale with France, however his own party: the Federalists, supported war against France. That meant that
Subsequently during the Quasi War, President Adams signed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798 (Gevinson). The idea of the acts was to suppress any French sympathizers in America and contain the growth of Republicans (Magill 48). Immigrants mainly became Republicans. The Republicans were were not only enraged by the signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, in the Republican’s response, they created the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions that “challenged the legitimacy of federal authority over the states” ( “John Adams: Life in Brief”). It argued that the acts were unconstitutional (Magill 48). In 1800, Adams’ signed the peace treaty with France, it enraged his own party the Federalists who were anti-French (Smith 20). In 1800, Adams’ second reelection was difficult for him because his party: the Federalists were divided over his foreign policy (“John Adams: Campaigns and Elections”). Though Adams came to close winning, the victory went to Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson became the Third President of the United States of America (Magill
Adams recognized that the security of the nation was at risk and he made peace with the French to end the Quazi War. He knew this was going to ruin his chances of a second term but he put the soundness of the nation over his own. John Adams focus on the stability of his nation made him unpopular at times but he knew what was best for nation and did
John Adams virtually eradicated his chances of easily winning the election of 1800 by defying the hardcore patriotic attitude of many Americans. Through his continued acts, regardless if they were what was best for the country at that particular time or is he believed morally that it was the correct decision, such as approving the Alien and Sedition Acts and helping the British soldiers that were involved in the Boston Massacre, he left no room for himself to take an easy path to the presidency much less any path to the presidency.
In June of 1797 the relationship between France and the United States worsened. Jay's Treaty of 1795 angered France, who was at war with Britain and recognized the treaty as support of an Anglo-American alliance. Almost 300 American ships bound for British were seized by France. Marshall finally accepted a national appointment from President John Adams as one of the three representatives to France to negotiate peace. He accepted because he was concerned about the controversy. However, when Marshall and the other representatives arrived in France, the French refused to negotiate unless the United States paid massive bribes.
John Adams began his career as a lawyer, and he first rose to prominence as an opponent of the Stamp Act of 1765 which deprived the American colonists of two basic rights guaranteed to all Englishmen, and which all free men deserved: rights to be taxed on only by consent and to be tried only by a jury of one?s peers. Then, he successfully defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre (1770) with only two of the eight found guilty of manslaughter believing that it was important to ensure that innocents were protected. From 1770 ? 1774, Adams served in the Massachusetts legislature and was then elected a member of the Continental Congress. He nominated Washington to be Commander-in-Chief and was part of the committee that worked to draft the Declaration of Independence.
At the end of the 18th century, an undeclared war was going on between the United States and France because of the recent XYZ affair; triggering a positive reaction by Federalists like Fisher Ames to convince the authorities to make the war official. Not knowing what to do, President John Adams appointed former-President George Washington as commander of the army to hopefully resolve the issue with France through diplomacy (as was Washington's stance).
Jefferson didn't out right abandon Republican views. Jefferson's mission was to restore republicanism, to check the growth of government power, and to stop the decline of virute that had set in during Federalist rule. In his inaugural address he stated, "The will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; the minority posses their equal rights, which equal law must project, and to violate would be oppression." A Republican view was to be ruled by informed masses which is majority rule. The common good pointed in the direction of Federalism. Jefferson had to do soemthing about the Barbary Pirates. He sent a navy to the shores of Tripoli. After four years, a treaty was signed. The small gunboats that were used in the war fascinated Jefferson so he deployed 200 of these gunboats along the coast to guard American shores. Republicans believed in a minimal army and navy. Jefferson aboandoned Republicanism by entering into the Tripolitan War and then keeping a navy along the Untied States' coast after the war. The United States was given the chance to buy all of Lousiana for $15 million. Jefferson knew that this would be technically unconstitution but he still sumbitted the treaties to the Senate. Once again, Jefferson changed from Republican views to Federalist views because of his realist and public official side. Jefferson knew this would help the United States grow and it would keep Louisana out of the hands of other countries in Europe. Because of the war between France and Britain, the United States wanted to perserve their neutrality. The United States could trade with either of the countries without facing attacks. Jefferson asked Congress for an embargo.
President Adams sent 3 envoys to France because he wanted France to stop attacking the United States. But when the envoys arrived, they were stopped by the French Foreign Talleyrand. He refused to stop attacking the American sailors and their ships but made them a deal. If he was given a large amount of money as a tribute, then he would make a peace arrangement with the country. This made the Americans and the president angry not agreeing with Talleyrand. So with no deal made, the French attacked 316 more American ships. Adams decided he could no longer keep the isolation with France so he demanded an army of 10,000 men with warships to fight back. In the end, they managed to capture more than 80 armed French vessels. The actions Adams took to keep the American ships and the U.S. safe was by attacking the French vessels but he knew if they kept fighting, it would hurt the country. He announced that he was going to send a peace treaty to France but when they got the message, a new French government had been established. With Talleyrand gone, a new leader named Napoleon was in charge of France. He was very different compared to the old leader because instead of attacking the U.S, he immediately agreed
Three important American leaders began to travel to have peace negotiations with the British in September of 1782. Soon after these negotiations with British leaders, Preliminary Articles for Britain and France were written, making peace before both countries. These Articles were signed November 10, 1782. Around five months later, they were ratified by congress. It wasn’t until September 3, 1783,
Jefferson believed that the United could be an imperial power as an empire. The negotiations of the 1783 Treaty of Paris, between the United States and Great Britain ended the American Revolution and opened to door to western settlement. The United States acquired land that extended from Florida and Canada and east to the Mississippi River. Since, Jefferson was a The Democratic- Republic, he believed in the strict interpretation of the Constitution, claiming that the Constitution doesn’t specifically say it then you can’t do it. However, Jefferson was placed in a dilemma of whether to enforce the strict interpretation of the Constitution with the Louisiana Purchase. Yet, his desire for western expansion caused Jefferson to adopt the loose interpretation of the
John Adams had a long road to get to being president. Adams started his careers off by planning to be a minister but he wasn't certain that was the right career path to take. After doing that for a few years he decided to become a lawyer which is how he truly started his interest in politics. Once Adams got involved with politics he served as vice president under George Washington. Two parties were developing at the end of Washington's term and by the end of the second he retired (Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. “John Adams: Life Before the Presidency”).
Many problems arise during one’s presidential term. During Thomas Jefferson’s, James Monroe’s, and James K. Polk’s term, each faced new pressure from foreign governments with their own solutions to them. Throughout Jefferson’s term, many began to worry what France’s action would do to the United States. After news broke out about France acquiring the Louisiana territory from Spain, “Americans reacted with alarm. [With Jefferson fearing] that a strong French presence in the midcontinent would force the United States into an alliance with Britain” (Danzer). To deal with the rising concern for the U.S citizen, Jefferson had James Monroe and American Ambassador Robert Livingston to France to buy New Orleans and western Florida. Since Napoleon gave
He demonstrated these skills during the “XYZ Affair” among the French. United States merchant ships were being seized by French warships, which stimulated many Americans to be angered. President Adams decided to send a delegation to Paris, in order to come to an agreement with France to cease the conflict. The delegates whom were sent encountered troubles with three French ministers known as “X,Y and Z”(cite). These ministers requested bribes in order to establish any negotiations. The citizens were infuriated with what had occurred, they attained the mindset of declaring war on France. John Adams applied his usage of leadership skills during this crisis, when he decided to not initiate a war. The resistance of popular sentiment proved Adams to be a great leader in the midst of crisis. Head of state Adams instead decided to send three new representatives, this resolution did not attain the outcome in which Adams was relying on. President Adams then built up the Army and Navy to commence war with France. The war was later known as the “Quasi-War”(cite) in which executive Adams once again demonstrated his ability to endure hardships with poise. The Treaty of Mortefontaine reestablished peace between France and the United States which also reinforced his leadership skills. In contrast, John Quincy Adams the sixth president was insufficient in regards to leadership skills amid devastations. The lack of his administration was evident when the passage of the “Tariff of Abominations” (cite) occurred. The Tariff of Abominations was a protective tax in which was created to preserve industry in the Northern States(cite) from foreign controversies. Although this tariff was beneficial to the North, it raised the price of manufactured goods in the South which prompted Adam’s loss of supporters specifically deriving from the south. This tariff also insinuated the
Strong sectional implications arose from the terms of Jay’s Treaty. Tensions developed between the two political parties over Jay’s Treaty. Alexander Hamilton gave Jay advice on negotiating the treaty. “Hamilton recommended an approach that would both stabilize relations with Great Britain and guarantee increased trade between the United States and Great Britain” ( “John Jay’s Treaty, 1794-95”). The Republicans disagreed with the treaty and questioned the intentions of the Federalists in their negotiations. This strained the unity of the U.S. “The treaty also provoked a fierce debate in Congress over the role of the House of Representatives in foreign affairs” (Keene, et al. 175). The public also strongly disagreed with the treaty. “Riots
Foreign Policy is a major contributor to the well being of a nation. Strong foreign policies originated with the first five original United States presidents, specifically, George Washington, James Madison, and James Monroe when they set strong examples.
These acts were, of no questions asked, surly constitutional. The Federalist Party presented these acts, later consequently passed by Congress, because they were and fair and just laws in accordance to the nation at that time. For the sake of argument, the nation and government was very inexperienced, and did not know what to expect in their near future. John Adams became the second president of the United States of America, subsequently, having to accept many challenges and responsibilities to fulfill the job in office. He had the task of making sure that the newly founded nation kept running smooth. That is a big burden if there are activities going on in the country that one has no control, nor knowledge of (i.e. foreigners coming into the nation and starting trouble by disrupting the form of government, or having radicals trying to protest and perturb the running government in office-Federalists, at this time). John Adams was smart enough to realize the significance of these factors. Thus, taking his duty of President of USA seriously, he, along with the Federalist-controlled Congress, took action to protect the new country. Hence, were the creation and passing of the four, debate-causing laws (Naturalization, Alien, Alien Enemies, and Sedition Acts).