There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
― John Adams
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
― John Adams
Although I have never sought popularity by any animated speeches or inflammatory publications against the slavery of the blacks, my opinion against it has always been known, and my practice has been so conformable to my sentiments that I have always employed freemen, both as domestics and laborers, and never in my life did I own a slave. The abolition of slavery must be gradual, and accomplished with much caution and circumspection. Violent means and measures would produce greater violations of justice and humanity than the continuance of the practice.
― John Adams
John Adams (October 30th, 1735 – July 4th, 1826) was the first vice-president under George Washington and the second President of the United States. His terms in office were from 1797 to 1801, he served right after George Washington refused to serve a third term. A member of the First and Second Continental Congress along with Vice-President Thomas Jefferson, the two frenemies argued about foreign affairs and about the role of America and its government. However, Adams is most successful in avoiding a war between France and England, building a Navy, and for ending the undeclared Quasi War with France, though it turned the Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, against him for that. Unfortunately, Adams also signed the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts that outlawed criticism to the government and it’s officials and made it harder for immigrants to become citizens. Before becoming president, Adams was the vocal leader for independence and helped Thomas Jefferson edit the Declaration of Independence in the summer of 1776. During the Revolutionary War, Adams became a diplomat in Europe where he helped discuss and establish a proper peace treaty with France and Britain. He was another president with the title being named "Honest John" and there being an "Honest Abe", although Adams didn't get along with people who disagreed with him and also had a crabby, stubborn, and argumentative personality, which made it difficult for him to compromise with his allies and rivals. Five hours after Jefferson’s death, John Adams died on July 4th, 1826 of heart failure at the age of 90. This was exactly 5 decades after the Declaration of Independence was ratified.
Heroism[]
- He was one of the vocal leaders for independence.
- During his career as member of the Second Continental Congress, he persuaded Congress to nominate George Washington to be Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, due to his military background in the French and Indian War.
- He assisted Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence.
- During his diplomatic career, Adams helped sign the Treaty of Paris which formally ended the American Revolutionary War.
- He opposed slavery and refused to own slaves. He was the only Founding Father of USA who never had slaves.
- He wrote the Massachusetts State Constitution.
- He help protect US ships by creating the Navy.
- He sign the Logan Act to prevent unauthorized responses from foreign nations.
- He help suppress the Fries Rebellion and pardoned John Fries, who was originally going to be executed.
- He signed the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seaman.
- He sign a bill to establish the Library of Congress.
- Even if he didn't attend Jefferson's inauguration, Adams help initiate a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another.
- He refused to go to the Napoleonic war with Britain and France, so America can mature from its infancy.
- He signed the Treaty of Tripoli to protect shipping rights.
- He signed the Slave Trade Act of 1800 that further restricted engagement of slave trade in any nations
- Even if it angered Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists, Adams improved relations with France by signing the Treaty of 1800 in order to put an end to the Quasi War.
- He appointed Ben Stoddert as the new Secretary of the Navy.
- He appointed William Henry Harrison as the governor of the new Indians Territory.
Trivia[]
- He was the first President to live in the White House, as it either wasn't finished being built or it wasn't even started during Washington's presidency.
- He also had a son named John Quincy Adams, who became America's sixth President.
- He was the first president to lose re-election and only serve one term.
- First president who did not own slaves.
- The only president from the Federalist party.
- First president who was previously Vice President.
- America's first Vice President.
- He died the same day that his lifelong friend and rival, Thomas Jefferson, died. Their deaths occurred on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary to the day after the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress.
- The first of seven known presidents who did not attend his successor's inauguration. The next six presidents were John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Nixon and Donald Trump.