The Presidency of John Adams

John Adams had the unenviable task of following George Washington as President of the United States. He also inherited many of the foreign policy problems of his predecessor. Adams chose to remain an independent voice in office. He clashed with his cabinet, mostly hold-overs from Washington's two terms in office, and often chose a path that caused consternation in the Federalist faction. But he also signed some of the worst legislation in American history into law--the Alien and Sedition Acts--a move that led to the finest examples of the "compact fact" in American history, the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions and the 1800 Report.

Adams eventually worked the United States out of a larger war with France and solidified American independence in foreign affairs. He also served only one term and lost the support of his Federalist colleagues during the tense Quasi-War with France. Adams was a complex man whose single term in the executive office deserves greater attention.

I've never covered much John Adams at McClanahan Academy. That changes with this course. We cover Adams election in 1796, the major issues of his administration, including the Alien and Sedition Acts, the XYZ Affair and Quasi-War with France, the Judiciary Act of 1801 and Fries's Rebellion, and his defeat in 1800.

This class was a lot of fun to make, and I think you'll enjoy getting to know the John Adams Presidency.