Welcome to part two! This week, it’s time for the first vice president and the second president to shine. Let’s dive into the administration of John Adams:
First Inauguration – 4th March 1797
After eight years as Vice President, it was John Adams’ time to shine. On the 4th March 1797, Adams was sworn in by Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth in Philadelphia. This was the last time a scheduled inauguration happened there. This peaceful transfer of power in a republic was unknown in this century, and even transfers of powers between monarchs weren’t necessarily smooth. Adams’ beloved wife Abigail was not present, as she was busy nursing his mother Susanna (she died in April).
First State of the Union Address -22nd November 1797
John Adams released his first State of the Union Address in Philadelphia on this date. In it, he warned of problems with foreign powers and of the national debt, the former being a cornerstone of his administration.
Reveals the XYZ Affair in Congress -3rd April 1798
The XYZ Affair was a diplomatic conflict between the United States and France. In short, several members of the French government attempted to get a bribe from American delegates, as well as an apology over an anti-French Adams speech and a large loan. Adams revealed this to Congress on this date. Politicians were divided. Adams’ Federalists were generally anti-France, whilst Vice President Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans held more of an allegiance. It looked as though war could happen.
Department of the Navy is established -30th April 1798
The Department of the Navy was established on this day. This would help to build the fledgling US Navy and was an executive department until 1949, when it came under the umbrella of the Department of the Defence.
Naturalization Act is signed -18th June 1798
The first of the Alien and Sedition Acts was signed on this day. It made it harder and longer for immigrants to become citizens, increasing the residency requirement from five to fourteen years. The notice time was also increased from three to five years. The law was very controversial.
Alien Friends Act is signed -25th June 1798
The second of the Alien and Sedition Acts, this allied the president to deport any non-citizen whom he deemed “dangerous.” Those opposed to it charged that this was the president just getting rid of enemies and critics.
Alien Enemies Act is signed -6th July 1798
The third of the Alien and Sedition Acts, this allowed all male non-citizens fourteen or over to be arrested, relocated or even deported if they came from an enemy nation. This was the only part of the act not to expire under Jefferson, and was used by presidents including James Madison and Woodrow Wilson. It was most famously used for Japanese-Americans/Japanese under Franklin D. Roosevelt, albeit expanded to those outside of the initial criteria.
US Navy captures La Croyable – 7th July 1798
Whilst the XYZ Affair didn’t lead to war, it led to the Quasi-War. On this date, the US Navy captured its first ship. This was the French schooner La Croyable, and became a symbol of propaganda. Renamed the USS Retaliation, it was re-taken by the French, but then by the Americans once again during the period.
Sedition Act is signed/Direct Tax Act is passed – 14th July 1798
Two major acts were passed on this day. The fourth and perhaps most controversial part of the Alien and Sedition Acts was one. The Sedition Act made it illegal to print or write false, ‘scandalous and malicious writing’ about the president, Congress and other parts of the Federal Government save for the vice president. It only passed after being watered down, and victims of it included Benjamin Franklin’s grandson. The Direct Tax Act, which taxed homes, land and slavery, was used to fund what seemed to be a looming war with France. It was as equally as controversial as the Sedition Act.
Nullifies the Treaty of Alliance with France – 7th July 1798
In 1778, France and America signed a treaty which ensured the former’s support of the latter’s revolution. In the face of disagreements with France, this treaty was nullified.
The Logan Act is signed – 30th January 1799
The Logan Act prohibited anyone not formally representing the United States to negotiate between the nation and a foreign country. Despite numerous accusations of violating the Logan Act as recently as 2024, no one has ever been convicted.
The L’Isurgente is captured – 9th February 1799
On this date, the USS Constellation captured the French vassal L’Insurgente. Unlike La Croyable, the L’Isugente was a warship, and the first one that the Navy had captured. This was a major victory for the US and represented a great propaganda win. The captain of the USS Constellation was showered with praise, and the L’Isurgente was renamed the USS Insurgent.
Fries’s Rebellion begins – 6th March 1799
Fries’s Rebellion came on the back of the Direct Tax Act as discussed before. In Pennsylvania, the lack of slaves meant that many homes were instead taxed by the size and number of windows. This aroused great anger. A resident named John Fries started meetings to discuss the topic. Eventually, on this date, violence erupted in Bucks County when Pennsylvania Dutch and German farmers took a tougher stance.
Napoleon becomes First Consul of the French Republic – 13rd December 1799
On this date, Napoleon Bonaparte became First Consul of the French Republic. After years of strife following the initial fall of the French monarchy, it seemed that it would finally be stable. The USA and France under Napoleon had a strained relationship, especially as the US wanted to stay neutral in the Napoleonic Wars. They would nevertheless come to an agreement on the Louisiana Purchase several years later.
Slave Trade Act of 1800 is signed -10th May 1800
The Slave Trade Act of 1800, signed on this date, banned the importing of slaves into the United States. It also made it harder through penalties. Adams was an abolitionist, but knew that banning slavery was not going to happen. The total abolition of slavery happened sixty-five years later, nearly forty years after Adams’ death.
Adams pardons all those involved in Fries’s Rebellion – 21st May 1800
John Fries and several others involved in the aforementioned rebellion were sentenced to be hanged. An outcry from the Federalists saw Adams pardon all the men sentenced to death, and he issued a general pardon on this date. This was more of a saving face pardon than a genuine one, as Adams was seen as being too heavy-handed.
Convention of 1800 is signed – 30th September 1800
On this date, the Convention of 1800 was signed by Adams. It ended the official alliance between the US and France dating back to the Revolution, but allowed mutual ‘most-favoured’ trading status.
Moved into the White House – 1st November 1800
The White House officially became the home of the US president on this date when John Adams moved into what was then the Presidential Mansion. Ever since, every president has resided there, from the short tenure of William Henry Harrison to the lengthy one of Franklin D. Roosevelt. His wife Abigail joined him there.
John Marshall is sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – 4th February 1801
Founding Father and Secretary of State John Marshall was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on this date. As the longest serving Chief Justice and fourth longest serving Justice in general (he served for thirty-four years), he oversaw some of the most important Supreme Court cases, including Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland and Worcester v. Georgia.
Adams officially loses re-election – 11th February 1801
US elections took a lot longer in the 19th century, and it wasn’t until the 11th February 1801 that the Electoral College finished counting votes. It soon became clear that Adams was not going to be reelected, and it would come down to Vice President Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
Judiciary Act of 1801 comes into effect – 13th February 1801
Also known as the Midnight Judges Act, this overwhelmingly reformed the federal judiciary. The number of Supreme Court seats was slimmed down from six to five, doubled the number of circuit courts, created ten district courts and increased their responsibility. It was known as the Midnight Judges Act as it was done in the last month of the Adams administration and was done to hamstring the Jefferson government.
Thomas Jefferson is officially voted in – 17th February 1801
On the 36th ballot of an exhausting election, Vice President Thomas Jefferson was voted in as the next US president. As a result of the system, Aaron Burr became his vice president (Jefferson would change that in office). Jefferson would oversee eight essential years in the US, and shape even more of the nation’s history than he already had.
D.C becomes the official seat of government – 27th February 1801
On this date, Washington D.C became the official seat of government. The government waved goodbye to its former home of Philadelphia. D.C remains the seat of government to this day.
Naval Peace Establishment bill is signed – 3rd March 1801
In one of his last acts as president, Adams signed this bill. Whilst it made deep cuts to the Navy, Adams was concerned that Jefferson would cut even more, so signed it himself.
Inauguration of Thomas Jefferson – 4th March 1801
Tired, missing Abigail and upset with the election results, Adams left the White House in the early hours of the morning in order to return to Massachusetts. He was the first of four US presidents not to attend the inauguration of their immediate successor (Andrew Jackson- for unknown reasons, Andrew Johnson-attended a cabinet meeting and Donald Trump- disagreed with the election results- being the next three). Adams died twenty-five years later, just hours after Jefferson, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
That’s it for John Adams. Tune in next week for Thomas Jefferson, in which we’ll see him deal with Aaron Burr, expanding the United States and quarrelling with foreign powers.