John Adams was a patriot lawyer who supported the Declaration of Independence and served as the first Vice President and second President of the United States. As President, he faced tensions with France during the Quasi-War, refusing calls for war and instead strengthening the navy. He signed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts, which increased immigration restrictions and criminalized criticism of government officials. This led Kentucky and Virginia to pass resolutions asserting states' rights to determine a federal law's constitutionality, sparking early debates over that issue.