John Adams served two terms as vice president under George Washington and was elected president in 1796. As president, he faced difficulties including a naval conflict with France and partisan conflicts between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. He signed the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts into law but did not strongly enforce them. Adams lost reelection in 1800 to Thomas Jefferson and the two founders had a falling out, but later reconciled through letters.

1. JOHN ADAMSPresidential Term

2. Adams served two terms as vice-president to George Washington.

3. Adams lost to George Washington in his campaign for re-election.

4. Being the obvious choice for second-in-command he was chosen for vice-precedency .

5. Felt that the vice-precedency was “the most insignificant office that ever the Invention of man contrived or his Imagination conceived.”Vice Precedency

6. His main duty was to preside over Senate and to vote to break ties when necessary.

7. In his term he cast between 31 and 38 such votes.

8. Supported all major initiatives proposed by the Washington administration.This included:Alexander Hamilton’s financial plan

9. The Neutrality Proclamation (1793) that ended the Franco-American alliance of 1778

10. The suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion

11. Jay TreatyWhen Washington decided to not seek reelection for a third term, Adams was the next in line.Vice-Precedency

12. Running against Thomas Jefferson, Adams won a narrow victory in the 1796 election, winning 71-68 electoral majority.

13. Jefferson was consequently made vice-president, but turned down the offer to be in Adams’ cabinet. Adams faced many difficulties coming into office including:The inheritance of Washington’s cabinet whose loyalty was primarily to Hamilton.

14. Naval conflict in the Caribbean with the French.

15. Also, replacing the hero of the Revolutionary War was not an easy task.PRESDENTIAL Election 1796

16. The conflict in the Caribbean caused a political rift between the Federalist and Democratic-Republicans Federalists would rather have war with France than alienate the British.

17. Democratic-Republicans viewed France as America’s only true European ally.Adams was forced to try and stay impartial to either party, but that left him in a position to be attacked by both partisan camps.Adams sent a peace delegation to Paris in 1797 to negotiate an end of hostilities in the Caribbean. Quasi-War

18. Xyz Affair John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry were sent to join C.C. Pickney, the ambassador to France, in Paris.

19. French foreign minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand impeded the American diplomacy mission for weeks.

20. He sent agents, who the Americans would refer to as X, Y, and Z in correspondence, to demand a bribe.

21. Basically the French wanted a bribe of a $12 million loan to begin negotiations.The delegates were ordered home and Adams started a naval buildup to prepare for outright war with the French.Federalists called for a 30,000 man army and Adams reluctantly agreed.

22. Adams could have declared war in 1798 and gained widespread popularityInstead he chose to send another peace delegation to France.This time it was successful, but the move ruined Adams politically.

23. He prevented a costly war that America was not fit to fight at the time no matter how unpopular the move.Quasi War

24. Part of two acts they were signed to restore domestic tranquility and preserve the Union, the Acts were pushed through Congress by the Federalist Party in 1798.The goal of the legislation was to tighten control over immigrants as well as those who criticized the government.

25. It permitted the deportation of foreign-born residents and the indictment of newspaper editors or writers who published criticism against the government.Alien and sedition acts