How Did John Adams Influence The Government

John Adams Born in Quincy, Massachusetts on October 30, 1735, John Adams was the son of John Adams Sr. and Susanna Boylston Adams. John Adams Sr. was a farmer, but also participated in the local government in Quincy. In 1751, at the young age of 16, the younger John Adams received a scholarship to Harvard and graduated four years later and began studying law at the practice of a local lawyer. Then, in 1758, Adams received his master’s degree from Harvard and became a lawyer. Like other founding fathers, Adams began his opposition to the crown with his disapproval of the Stamp Act of 1765. He wrote and publicized articles and gave a speech to condemn the act. However, in 1770, Adams defended the British Soldiers responsible for killing five …show more content…
Adams fairly defended the soldiers and considered the massacre from their points of view. Adams work helped to acquit most of the soldiers involved, but damaged his local reputation in the process. In 1774, was elected as one of the representatives of Massachusetts at the First Continental Congress. In May of the following year, Adam’s proposal of separate governments for the colonies was accepted. Within the next month, the Declaration of Independence was signed and approved by Congress. With the birth of the new nation, Adams was a key player in the functions of the government. In 1779, Adams was sent to Paris discuss a treaty to end the Revolutionary War, eventually leading to the Treaty of Paris. Adams continued to work throughout most of Europe and even became …show more content…
His opponent in the election was Thomas Jefferson, who barely lost the election and was made the second Vice President of the United States. One of the main occurrences of the Adam’s administration was the XYZ Affair. This refers to France’s offer to negotiate the ongoing conflicts of Europe with the United States in return for a bribe. Adams declined the offer, but when the public caught word of the XYZ Affair, many Americans called for war, but Adams chose peace. However, some minor naval battles occurred but ceased by 1800 as a peace treaty was signed. At first, many Americans disapproved of Adams’ handling of the crisis, but he eventually became praised for it. Unfortunately, Adams presidency had some major flaws: the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. These acts allowed the government to deport aliens and arrest Americans who strongly opposed the government or its actions. The acts were very unpopular and were even declared unconstitutional by Republicans, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The outcry against the acts severely damaged Adams’ reputation and prevented him from being reelected. Adams term ended in 1801 and he returned home to Quincy to live with his wife, Abigail. Unfortunately, Abigail died in 1818. In his later years, Adams would begin to exchange letters with his old enemy, Thomas Jefferson. The old rivalry soon became an unbreakable