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Relations
Adams was the great-great-gandson of John and Priscilla Alden. The first two Pilgrims to land on Plymouth Rock in 1620. -
Birth/Death
John Adams was bron in 1735 in Massachutess Bay Colony. He went to Harvard University and he early became identified with the patriot cause a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement for independence. -
Health and Medical History
During the smallpox epidemic of 1764 in Massachusetts, Adams pressured by his mother to make him be inoculated,there was an outbreak of smallpox in Boston. At age 15 Adams was admitted to Harvard, where the food was described as "very poor." His breakfasts consisted of beer and bread. So his helath was pretty good but not very healthy. -
Life Before Presidency
John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. He was America's second president and lived to be the John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. -
French Vs. British War
When Adams became President, the war between The French and British was causing great difficulties for the United States on the high seas and intense partisanship among contending factions within the Nation. It was rough but he made his country through that hard time period. -
His Progress
In 1770, Adams was elected to the General Court (Lower House) of the Massachusetts legislature. Three years later, he was elected to the Governor's Council, but his election was vetoed by the Royal Governor, most likely due to Adams' support for the Boston Tea Party. -
Rev. War
During the Revolutionary War he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the treaty of peace. From 1775-1783. -
Achievements
Some little known facts such as how he turned down the opportunity to write the Declaration of Independence (he felt he was more valuable on the floor of Congress), was the only one of our founding father not to own slaves during his entire life, and probably saved the democracy by avoiding a war with France are finally taking light and granting him his rightful place in history. -
Other Positions In Office
In 1789, Adams began serving Washington as vice president, a position he described as the "most insignificant office." He also had many associates and was the founding chairman of The WorldCome Group, John has been a public affairs consultant to major corporations, governments, industry associations and non-profit groups for more than 25 years. -
XY and Z
Adams sent three commissioners to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless they would first pay a substantial bribe. Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and Z." -
Peace Mission
Sending a peace mission to France brought the full fury of the Hamiltonians against Adams. In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided. Nevertheless, Adams polled only a few less electoral votes than Jefferson, who became President -
First In The White House
John Adams and his family were the first residents in the White House. They moved there in November 1800 while the paint was still wet. -
Inaugruation of 1800
Adams was one of the three presidents not to attend the inaugruation of his successer. Not only was Adams not disappointed in losing to Jefferson, he was also grieving about his son Charles death. -
Elections
When the electoral votes were counted in the Senate on 11 February 1801, Adams had sixty-five, Pinckney sixty-four, and Burr and Jefferson seventy-three each. Then -
Declaration of Independce
The only president to sign the Declaration of Independce, Adams and Jefferson both died on its 50th anniversary on July 4th 1826. -
His last letters
Adams retired to his farm in Quincy. Here he penned his elaborate letters to Thomas Jefferson. Here on July 4, 1826, he whispered his last words: "Thomas Jefferson survives." But Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier.
