President+Adams



"Liberty cannot be preserved without knowledge among people"


 * Was Pres. Washington's Vice President
 * Presidency (1797-1801) Vice President: Thomas Jefferson
 * Was from Massachusetts
 * Was considered a great patriot during the Revolution
 * Federalist
 * Very "brainy", outspoken and cantankerous. "Ditching" changed his way of thinking as a boy.
 * Was often at odds with the Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonians) as well as other Federalists
 * Kept America from going to actual war with France (this was touchy business as France was still shaky because of the French Revolution)
 * XYZ affair "Millions for defence, but not one cent for tribute"
 * Adams proposed building a serious US Navy (our navy dates to this time) and battles take place between US and French ships in this undeclared war
 * Signed the notorious "Alien and Sedition" Acts which turned public opinion against him (pushed hard by "ultra Federalists" whom Adams didn't want to "alienate"). Resulted in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions (rebuttals against the Alien and Sedition acts).


 * When he was in his 90's he was asked to give a speech in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At first refusing, he later agreed to give a simple toast and said "Independence forever".