American Presidents





JohnAdams
Read a letter from President Adams

Portrait Gallery


Did You Know?

• John Adams is the first president whose son became president.
• He was the first president to live in the White House--then referred to as the Executive Mansion.
• He died on July 4, 1826, the same day as his friend and political rival Thomas Jefferson.
• During his administration, the Alien and Sedition Acts--designed to suppress political opposition--were passed.

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Key Events in the Administration


John Adams
(October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826)

Life Facts

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Personal:
First Lady: Abigail Adams, Wife
Wife's Maiden Name: Abigail Smith
Number of Children: 5
Education Level: College
School Attended: Harvard University
Religion: Unitarian
Profession: Teacher, Lawyer, Surveyor, Selectman

Public Service:
Dates of Presidency: 3/4/1797 - 3/3/1801
Presidency Number: 2
Number of Terms: 1
Why Presidency Ended: Defeated
Party: Federalist
His Vice President(s): Thomas Jefferson
Vice President For: George Washington (1789-1797)
Colonial Government: Mass. Legislature (1768-1774), Continental Congress (1774-1777)
Other Offices: Diplomat to France; Diplomat to the Netherlands; Diplomat to Great Britain
 
Methodology and Resources

Presidential Places

Birthplace: Adams National Historic Park
Gravesite: United First Parish Church

Reference Material

Bibliography
Inaugural Address
Related Links
C-SPAN in the Classroom
Papers: Library of Congress - Washington, DC, 202-707-5387
Watch American Presidents Programs from
C-SPAN's Archives

Programming includes:

• John Adams Life Portrait: From the Stone Library of the Adams Mansion at the Adams National Historic Site - Quincy, MA
 Guests included: David McCullough, historian and author, John Adams (some of his other books include: The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, Brave Companions, Mornings on Horseback, The Path Between the Seas, and Truman); John Stanwich, park ranger, Adams National Historic Park; and Abigail Brown, Adams relative Watch | Order Videotape
   
• Online chat with Celeste Walker, associate editor, Adams' papers, Massachusetts Historical Society Read the Transcript
      
• Adams biographical vignette Watch
 
• Joseph Ellis on John Adams' collection of books Watch
 
• C. Bradley Thompson, author, John Adams & Liberty Watch

 • Booknotes with Joseph Ellis, Passionate Sage Watch

• Adams' gravesite vignette Watch   


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