John Adams
Founding Era
Adams presided over a turbulent early republic, avoided full war with France, and left office after one of the first fiercely contested transfers of power.
The presidency in power
Quasi-War with France
Alien and Sedition Acts
Peaceful transfer of power after the election of 1800
Sequence Recall
Term Structure
1797-03-04 to 1801-03-04
Elected by the Electoral CollegeWhat This President Actually Did
Vice Presidents
Constitutional Themes
Early free-speech conflict
Limits of executive wartime response
Signature Measures
Alien and Sedition Acts
Defining Crises
Quasi-War with France
Self-Test Prompts
Which party did John Adams represent, and what broader era does this presidency belong to?
Federalist. This presidency is grouped here under Founding Era.
How did John Adams first enter office?
Elected by the Electoral College.
What are the three most important moments to remember from this presidency?
Quasi-War with France; Alien and Sedition Acts; Peaceful transfer of power after the election of 1800.
Daily Drill Extension
Which presidents bracket John Adams in the sequence?
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Which party and era should you associate with John Adams?
Federalist; Founding Era.
How did John Adams first enter office?
Elected by the Electoral College.
Name two high-signal moments that make John Adams historically memorable.
Quasi-War with France; Alien and Sedition Acts.
Which constitutional or institutional themes should you connect to John Adams?
Early free-speech conflict; Limits of executive wartime response.