John Adams example essay topic

The second President of the United States was John Adams, a lawyer and diplomat. Adam's public career lasted more than 35 years. He was second only to George Washington in making a place for the young United States among the nations of the world. In his devotion to the country he was second to none. Adams was a federalist. He, like other federalists, believed in a strong central government.

However, he was independent and decided issues for himself in the interests of his country and often against the interests of his party. Adams was defeated for a second term as president because he defied party power to act for his vision of the nations good. John Adams was born October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was the eldest of three sons, children of John and Susanna Boylston Adams. Young John attended a "dame" school, a school conducted by a woman in her home. Later he went to the Free Latin School.

He was handy around cattle and horses, helping with the milking and feeding. He was helpful in the kitchen too, building fires and cleaning up. In summer he went down to the bay to watch the sailing ships come in. In winter he skated on the frozen creeks. He flew homemade kites, collected bird's eggs, and always had a whittling knife in hand. When he entered Harvard College, he intended to become a minister.

By the time he graduated, he had given up the idea. He taught school until he could makeup his mind about his future. Adams taught in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 60 miles west of Boston. After a year he began to study law under James Putnam, the town's leading lawyer.

He kept on teaching and spent his after-school hours in Putnam's office. He was admitted to the bar in November 1758 and settled in Braintree to practice. When he was 29 he married Abigail Smith, a minister's daughter. She was only 20, but she had schooled herself well in politics and literature.

They had four children: Abigail, John Quincy, Charles and Thomas. After he was through serving in the Revolutionary War, he returned to the United States and was elected vice-president under George Washington. In 1792 Washington and Adams were reelected. Political parties began to emerge during Washington's presidency. Adams and Alexander Hamilton led the Federalist party.

They opposed Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican party. In 1797 Adams became president, with Jefferson as vice-president. Despite Adam's great ability and patriotism, he was never popular. He was often vain and blunt. He was charged with wanting to confine power to the "rich, the well-born, and the able". He did not get along well with Hamilton, and as a result the party was hopelessly split.

There was increasing friction between Adams and France. In 1798 the country supported Adams when he defied the French. The demands for bribes led the American envoy to declare "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute". Peace with France was made in 1800, but taxation to support the war had brought complications. In Pennsylvania John Fries had led a rebellion against taxes. He and others were convicted of treason.

The Federalists demanded their execution, but Adams pardoned them. The Federalists also pressed the tyrannical Alien and Sedition laws over Adam's objections. The Virginia and Kentucky legislatures passed resolutions asking other states to join in declaring the laws illegal. In the election of 1800 Jefferson received 73 electoral votes to Adam's 65. Adams renewed his friendship with Jefferson. Adams died on July 4, 1826.

Jefferson died the same day, a few hours earlier. Adams, who did not know this, supposedly murmured as he died, "Thomas Jefferson still lives.".