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'''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an [[America]]n Founding Father, diplomat, and the second [[President of the United States]] from 1797-1801.  Adams was a prominent figure of the [[American Revolution]].  His numerous accomplishments include involvement in the drafting of the [[Declaration of Independence]], writing the constitution for the state of Massachusetts, serving as a diplomat to [[England]], [[France]], and the [[Netherlands]], negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and serving as the first Vice President of the United States under President [[George Washington]]. Adams changed the spelling of Jefferson's elegant "inalienable" rights to a disfavored "unalienable" rights, leaving that clumsy spelling in the most famous sentence in the English language.<ref>https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/unalienable.html</ref>

'''John Adams''' (1735-1826) was an [[America]]n Founding Father, diplomat, and the second [[President of the United States]] from 1797–1801.  Adams was a prominent figure of the [[American Revolution]].  His numerous accomplishments include involvement in the drafting of the [[Declaration of Independence]], writing the constitution for the state of Massachusetts, serving as a diplomat to [[England]], [[France]], and the [[Netherlands]], negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and serving as the first Vice President of the United States under President [[George Washington]]. Adams changed the spelling of Jefferson's elegant "inalienable" rights to a disfavored "unalienable" rights, leaving that clumsy spelling in the most famous sentence in the English language.<ref>https://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/unalienable.html</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election, 1796|presidential election of 1796]], Adams, on the ticket of the [[Federalist Party]], defeated the Democratic-Republican nominee [[Thomas Jefferson]] and became the second President of the United States.  He broke with Hamilton and the ultra-Federalists, leaving him in a weak position as president. He lost to Jefferson in a bitter rematch in known 1800. His presidency was marked by the [[Quasi-War]] between the United States and France, the [[XYZ Affair]], the founding of the [[U.S. Navy]], the passage of [[Alien and Sedition Acts]], building a new national army, and an unexpected peace with France; as he left office he appointed numerous judges, most notably [[John Marshall]] as Chief Justice.

In the [[United States presidential election, 1796|presidential election of 1796]], Adams, on the ticket of the [[Federalist Party]], defeated the Democratic-Republican nominee [[Thomas Jefferson]] and became the second President of the United States.  He broke with Hamilton and the ultra-Federalists, leaving him in a weak position as president. He lost to Jefferson in a bitter rematch in known 1800. His presidency was marked by the [[Quasi-War]] between the United States and France, the [[XYZ Affair]], the founding of the [[U.S. Navy]], the passage of [[Alien and Sedition Acts]], building a new national army, and an unexpected peace with France; as he left office he appointed numerous judges, most notably [[John Marshall]] as Chief Justice.

In the wake of the [[Boston Massacre]] in 1770, Boston's leaders prevailed on Adams to represent the British troops. He did so, arguing that all Englishmen deserved a vigorous defense.  He pleaded self-defense, and won the case.  He argued that Boston would be better served if many guilty persons escaped unpunished than if one innocent one suffered. It was, he maintained, of more importance to the community “that innocence should be protected, than...that guilt should be punished.”  

In the wake of the [[Boston Massacre]] in 1770, Boston's leaders prevailed on Adams to represent the British troops. He did so, arguing that all Englishmen deserved a vigorous defense.  He pleaded self-defense, and won the case.  He argued that Boston would be better served if many guilty persons escaped unpunished than if one innocent one suffered. It was, he maintained, of more importance to the community “that innocence should be protected, than...that guilt should be punished.”  

   

   

In 1774, after the crisis brought on by the [[Boston Tea Party]] and the resulting [[Coercive Acts]], Adams became an advocate for American independence. Adams was one of Massachusetts’s representatives to the Continental Congress. He attracted the notice of other delegates at the [[Second Continental Congress]] as one of the first to argue for independence.

In 1774, after the crisis brought on by the [[Boston Tea Party]] and the resulting [[Coercive Acts]], Adams became an advocate for American independence. Adams was one of Massachusetts's representatives to the Continental Congress. He attracted the notice of other delegates at the [[Second Continental Congress]] as one of the first to argue for independence.

==Declaring Independence==

==Declaring Independence==

Adams continued the Washington's policy of neutrality in the ongoing war between Britain and France, selling supplies to both sides. Federalists were pushing for a war against France and closer ties to Britain. Adams wanted peace, but was caught up in the storm of events.  

Adams continued the Washington's policy of neutrality in the ongoing war between Britain and France, selling supplies to both sides. Federalists were pushing for a war against France and closer ties to Britain. Adams wanted peace, but was caught up in the storm of events.  

The French were openly seizing American ships, leading to an undeclared war known as the [[Quasi-War]] of 1798-99.  Adams sent diplomats to meet with the [[French Directory]], only to be refused an audience and commercial relations were suspended. In 1798, the French demanded American diplomats pay huge bribes in order to see the French Foreign Minister [[Talleyrand]], which the diplomats rejected. The Jeffersonian Republicans, suspicious of Adams, demanded the documentation, which Adams released using X, Y and Z as codes for the names of the French diplomats. A wave of nationalist sentiment overwhelmed the U.S. Congress approved Adams' plan to organize the navy. Adams reluctantly signed the Alien and Sedition Act as a wartime measure.   

The French were openly seizing American ships, leading to an undeclared war known as the [[Quasi-War]] of 1798–99.  Adams sent diplomats to meet with the [[French Directory]], only to be refused an audience and commercial relations were suspended. In 1798, the French demanded American diplomats pay huge bribes in order to see the French Foreign Minister [[Talleyrand]], which the diplomats rejected. The Jeffersonian Republicans, suspicious of Adams, demanded the documentation, which Adams released using X, Y and Z as codes for the names of the French diplomats. A wave of nationalist sentiment overwhelmed the U.S. Congress approved Adams' plan to organize the navy. Adams reluctantly signed the Alien and Sedition Act as a wartime measure.   

The Federalists made major gains in the 1798 election, and Congress passed a law for a much-enlarged army. Nominally it was under the control of Washington; in reality Hamilton controlled the new army, and Adams was left a byestander.

The Federalists made major gains in the 1798 election, and Congress passed a law for a much-enlarged army. Nominally it was under the control of Washington; in reality Hamilton controlled the new army, and Adams was left a byestander.