Ismael Nunez
Ms. Wilson
English 1 Pre AP, Period 2
June 1, 2010
One of the Greatest…
“…With the sense and spirit, the faith and honor, the duty and interests, of the same
American people pledged to support the Constitution of the United States, I entertain no doubt of
its continuance in all its energy, and my mind is prepared without hesitation to lay myself under
the most solemn obligations to support it to the utmost of my power (Copeland)” John Adams
was a great man whom had many great expectations and was considered a great president by
many individuals. John Adams was the second President; he accomplished so much in his four
year term of presidency. He accomplished many diverse things. He signed the alien and sedition
acts, stopped France from going to war with the United States, and he was the Second President
of the United States.
First of all, John Adams was a very successful president who had slight flaws, many may
think the Alien and Sedition Acts were a great of many mistakes but some may also beg to differ.
“These Acts were passed during John Adam’s time as president in response to criticism against
the government and specifically the Federalists. The backlash to these acts was probably the
main reason why John Adams was not elected to a second term as President. The Acts consist of
four measures designed to limit immigration and free speech”(Regulatory Intelligence Data). The
Alien and Sedition Acts were separated into four different sections that included the
Naturalization Act, The Alien Act, The Alien Enemy Act, and the Sedition Acts. Each meant
something different that allowed deportation of aliens in a foreign country (R.I.D). These acts
became four laws in which John Adams had the power to deport any “alien” who was suspected
as French or was French but these laws became unconstitutional. On the other hand, the laws did
provide foreign invaders, the French, from entering the U.S to commit John Adams’
assassination or any other foreign attacks, his main goal was settling peace with the French. “At
base the Alien and Sedition acts prohibited criticism of the federal government…Americans
found guilty of sedition faced prison terms of up to five years and hefty fines. In certain
circumstances, aliens remaining in the U.S could be imprisoned”(R.I.D). In other words, the four
acts enforced John Adams to expel any French man, or anyone suspicious, to be faced with
prison for five years including large fines. “One of the men arrested was Benjamin Franklin’s
grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, editor of the Philadelphia Democrat-Republican Aurora.
Charged with libeling President Adams, Bache’s arrest erupted in a public outcry against all
Alien and Sedition Acts. Many Americans questioned the constitutionality of these laws. Indeed,
public opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts was so great that they were part responsible for
the election of Thomas Jefferson, a Republican, to the presidency in 1800”(Adams, John). These
Acts were proven unconstitutional and had caused much political argument during the elections
of 1798-1801.
Second of all, The “XYZ” Affair, John Adam’s successful attempt to discontinue
the war between France and the U.S. “When John Adams became president in 1797, he was
eager to avoid war. He sent three agents—Elbridge Gerry, Pinckney, and John Marshall—to
France to settle the difficulty. They were met finally by three French go-betweens, called X, Y,
and Z in American dispatches. These men demanded a gift of 250,000 dollars to Talleyrand, the
French foreign minister, and a loan of ten million dollars to France as preliminary to
negotiations. When the dispatches were published, they angered the United States to the point of
starting a war.”(XYZ affair). An argument was held between France and the U.S. France had
bribed the United States and asked for a ten million dollar loan to which Pinckney replied “No!
No! Not a sixpence”(XZY affair)! Commission was angered and attempted to blackmail John
Adams which began to cause more problems. (XYZ affair) “Anticipating a declared war with
France, Congress enacted the Alien and Sedition Acts. These internal security laws were aimed
at French and Irish immigrants, who were thought to be supportive of France”(XYZ affair).
France eventually gave in and accepted the offer the United States had gave them. After this,
Adam’s population reached a new high, Adam’s negotiated an end to their feud in exchange for
ignoring damages to seized cargos, and France did agree to annul the Franco-American alliance.
It is believed that John Adams was considered a good president but he had trouble
deciding on some of major decisions, his colleagues began to give him a bad reputation but, a
newspaper called the Aurora helped motivate, and bring his reputation back to the highest peak.
Based on some of his accomplishments and his flaws, he had not been elected for a second term
of presidency. “Let us not forget that it was John Adams who nominated George Washington to
be Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. It was John Adams who insisted that Jefferson
be the one to write the Declaration of Independence. And it was President John Adams who
made John Marshall Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. As a casting director alone”(R.I.D).
John Adams had made most of the decisions in the political office, he chose who was best for the
positions that were very important, like Commander in Chief for the Continental Army, who
wrote the Declaration of Independence, and who would be chosen ad Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court (R.I.D). John Adams, one of the most important and often neglected Founders of
the American Republic, has been rediscovered by the establishment. Suddenly we are awash in
books about the "short, plump and prickly" Massachusetts lawyer who led the fight in Congress
for the Declaration of Independence and went on to become our first Vice President and then our
second President, succeeding the monumental George Washington”(Edwards, Lee). Opponents
may argue that he however made many mistakes during his presidency and that was exactly why
he did not have the ability to continue his presidency in a new term. He did many things right but
he also happened to do many things wrong. For example The Alien and Sedition Acts were laws
that were not thought out clearly but were used to defend the United States from foreign
strangers; these laws had caused much political argument in the election years of 1798 and 1801
(Adams, John). John Adams was highly principled President in tumultuous times. Though
gravely mistaken when he signed the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts, he had the good sense
and determination and the courage to keep America from going to war with France, which was a
very great accomplishment, indeed, with far-reaching consequences (R.I.D). The war between
France and the United States never did occur due to John Adams great work of responsibility; he
stopped the war even though France and the U.S had been going through great difficulties but,
John Adams knew how to handle them.
John Adams, one of many great Vice Presidents’ and Presidents’ of the United States,
had handled many situations in the correct way although some with minor flaws. He
accomplished things some presidents might have not been able to handle; He signed the alien
and sedition acts, stopped the U.S from going to war with France, and was the First V.P and
Second President. Although his great accomplishments had not all been handled correctly, and
during his presidency he might have not made all the correct decisions, he knew how to control
the situation. While signing the Alien and Sedition acts he wasn’t allowing foreign invaders, like
the French, into the United States for a good reason, his assassination and the protection of his
citizens. His next accomplishment had been to put out of action the war between the U.S and
France finally calling truce with an event called the “XYZ” Affair. Him being a president was
one of the greatest things the United States had been able to manage but do to his minor flaws he
was only able to be President for a four year term. I personally think John Adams was thinking
ahead of the situation, he thought “what if.” He knew the French would possibly try and plan
something by immigrating into the U.S and he signed the Alien and Sedition acts to put a stop to
it immediately. Sooner or later he knew the feud had to stop. His Presidency and his life will
always be remembered. John Adams born on October 30, 1735, dead on July 4, 1835 had always
been successful; he had many great expectations but unfortunately was unable to accomplish
them all due to his short presidency. His speech explains so much, it shows his true dedication
for his job as president and how far he was willing to go to support the United States. John
Adams had done much for the United States although some had a different point of view on his
accomplishments and what he had done during his life, some people believe he was a successful
president some have a completely different opinion and will always realize the effects John
Adams had on the United States but, although John Adams was not perfect he was near to being
the ideal President.