John Adams
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- For the composer John Adams see John Adams (composer)
| John Adams | |
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| In office March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801 |
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| Vice President(s) | Thomas Jefferson |
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| Preceded by | George Washington |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Jefferson |
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| Born | October 30, 1735 Braintree, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 4, 1826 Quincy, Massachusetts |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Abigail Smith Adams |
John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was the second President of the United States (1797–1801), and father of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. He was also the first Vice President of the United States (1789–1797).
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[edit] Early years
Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He went to Harvard College. He married Abigail Adams in 1764. He was a cousin of another patriot, Samuel Adams.
[edit] Revolution years
Adams wanted the Thirteen Colonies to be free from Great Britain. However, Adams was fair and thought every person should be treated fairly. Even though he did not want British soldiers in Boston, he was the lawyer who defended the British soldiers who were involved in the Boston Massacre.
Adams was a representative from Massachusetts during the Second Continental Congress. He helped Thomas Jefferson write the United States Declaration of Independence. During the American Revolutionary War, Adams helped make peace with Great Britain.
[edit] Vice President and President
Adams was the first vice president under George Washington. After Washington chose not to run again, Adams won the 1796 election. Adams was the first president to belong to a political party. He was a Federalist. He beat Thomas Jefferson of the Democratic-Republican Party. President candidates and vice president candidates did not run together like they do today. Since Jefferson got the second highest number of votes, he became vice president.
Adams kept the United States out of war with both Great Britain and France. He also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. Many people did not like those acts. Adams was not re-elected president. The Federalist Party was not as popular as it was when Adams was elected. One of his last acts as president was to make John Marshall the Chief Justice of the United States. This made sure that the Federalist Party would still be important.
[edit] Later years
Adams retired to Quincy, Massachusetts. He died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. Thomas Jefferson died on the same day.
| Presidents of the United States of America |  |
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| Washington | J. Adams | Jefferson | Madison | Monroe | J. Q. Adams | Jackson | Van Buren | W. H. Harrison | Tyler | Polk | Taylor | Fillmore | Pierce | Buchanan | Lincoln | A. Johnson | Grant | Hayes | Garfield | Arthur | Cleveland | B. Harrison | Cleveland | McKinley | T. Roosevelt | Taft | Wilson | Harding | Coolidge | Hoover | F.D. Roosevelt | Truman | Eisenhower | Kennedy | L. B. Johnson | Nixon | Ford | Carter | Reagan | G. H. W. Bush | Clinton | G. W. Bush | ||
