John Adams' Legacy and National Security

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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Transition of Power

When George Washington decided not to run for a third term, King George III remarked that it "placed him in a light the most distinguished of any man living" and he was "the greatest character of the age."

This was a stunning compliment from a monarch who had lost control of the thirteen colonies. Washington's voluntary relinquishment of power impressed even his former adversaries.

Washington's popularity was unmatched, but the political scene shifted as the first president stepped down. The emergence of the first American political parties — the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans — set the stage for the Election of 1796.

Watch the following video to understand the chaotic electoral system created by the Constitution.

With solid support in the northern states, John Adams won the presidency, while Thomas Jefferson, favored in the South, became Vice President.

This regional divide highlighted their contrasting visions for America: Jefferson advocated for a small government focusing on agriculture, while Adams and the Federalists believed in a strong central government to ensure effective governance.

XYZ Affair

The French Revolution sparked a major European conflict in the late 1700s.

Washington's treaty with Britain aimed to keep the U.S. neutral, but the French, who had supported the American Revolution, felt betrayed and believed the U.S. was siding with Britain.

Watch the video below to learn about the XYZ Affair and its impact on U.S.-French relations.

The failed negotiations fueled anti-French sentiment and challenged Washington's isolationist policy, leading to the Quasi-War — a series of naval skirmishes between the U.S. and France.

The Alien and Sedition Acts

As tensions rose, John Adams responded with the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, a series of controversial laws that did the following.

It allowed the deportation of foreigners deemed a threat (Alien Enemies Act).

It permitted the deportation of foreigners without proof of threat (Alien Friends Act).

It made it harder for immigrants to gain citizenship (Naturalization Act).

It restricted freedom of speech and the press (Sedition Act).

Thomas Jefferson, Adams's vice president and a Democrat-Republican, strongly opposed these acts, partly because he supported France.

Though Adams passed these acts out of concern for national security, they were deeply unpopular. In the 1800 election, he narrowly lost to Jefferson, who had gained support by opposing the Sedition Act.

Adams' presidency ended with his reputation marred by these acts, but he managed to avoid war. His actions set precedents for future restrictions on civil liberties.

As you proceed to the Got It? section, reflect on why Adams enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts and their significance for his presidency.