John Adams

Birth-Death: (1735 - 1826 ) Term: (1797-1801 )

During his presidency, John Adams tried as much as possible to avoid war with France. These actions caused his political death, as he did not follow the leaders of the Federalist party.

Foreign Events of John Adams

    The brand new nation was regarded as highly inferior by the European imperial giants. John Adams followed the advice given by President Washington in his Farewell Address. He realized the instability of the country and need to keep out of wars.

    The Jay treaty was very unpopular not only with the American People, but also with the French Nation. France considered it a violation of the Treaty of Alliance of 1778. In 1778 the French helped the United States win the Revolutionary war against the common evil - Great Britain, in return the United States promised not to make any treaties with England without France's consent. Furthermore, the French revolutionists expected help from the United States in their rebellion against the king. Two years after the Jay treaty, in 1797 the French began attacking American vessels on the high seas.

    President Adams was anxious to avoid war at almost any cost, and he sent commissioners to France to find some acceptable terms for peace. These commissioners were approached by three French envoys and asked for a bribe in order to see the Foreign Minister. The Americans refused and the negotiators returned home empty-handed.

    The country was on the brink of war. A cry of "Millions for defense, but not a cent for tribute" swept through the nation. The pro-Britain federalists were pushing for war. John Adams sacrificed his political career for the good of the nation and refused. He assessed the situation and sent a new envoy to France in 1799. A peace with France was finally settled on September 30th the next year.

    Adams had succeeded in preventing war with France and preserving the United States' neutrality. However, he paid for it his political career. He was viewed too conservative by his fellow partisans, who wanted to attack France, and too liberal by the Anti-Federalists because he did not aid the French rebels in their revolution. Adams kept the nation neutral and postponed the first American War until more than a decade later in 1812.