John Adams
John Adams had big shoes to feel when he stepped up as the second President of the United States of America. The public truly loved George Washington and it was hard for them to accept there would be a new man in charge.
Yet the democracy of the United States clearly stated a President could only serve two terms, and George Washington was not about to contradict the laws he had fought so hard to put into place. However, many people don’t stop to consider than Adams was the Vice President to Washington so he knew what role he was stepping into. He became President in 1797.
Some writings say Adams was very unhappy as Vice President because he wanted to be the important man. Yet he was wise enough to know that his day would come soon enough. Other materials state Adams and Washington had a very strong bond between them and Washington often when to Adams for assistance and advice with issues. Adams also consulted Washington after his second term as President ended.
The Presidency was in a difficult position when Adams came into office. The war between the French and the British left the United States in the middle of it all. This greatly affected their ability to move cargo into the United States.
Adams was well regarded for his philosophies about life and politics. He was well liked though and able to logically find solutions to most any time of problem that came his way. He definitely knew the law as he graduated from Harvard with a degree in law.
Adams was asked to serve as a diplomatic liaison in France and Holland. He played an instrumental role in getting a peace treaty negotiated. Yet Adams was always ready to stand up for what he believed in. He is among the delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence.
He died on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1826. Ironically Thomas Jefferson, who Adams mentioned in his last breaths, had died just a few hours earlier at his home. Adams was defeated in the Presidential election of 1800 by Thomas Jefferson but Adams wrote him length letters to tell him his opinion of how the country should be run.
