John Adams served as the second President of the United States from 1797 to 1801. A Massachusetts lawyer, he helped lead the push for independence, served as a diplomat in Europe, and was the nation’s first vice president under George Washington.
Adams was a Federalist. His single term was shaped by tension with France, known as the Quasi War, which he settled through diplomacy instead of a full declaration of war.
Key Moments
He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, which became a major political controversy. In November 1800 he became the first president to live in the White House.
Did You Know
Adams and Thomas Jefferson were rivals and later friends through letters. Both died on July 4, 1826, exactly fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. His son John Quincy Adams became the sixth president.
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