3. As America’s 2nd President, John Adam’s avoided war with France. But his own party backstabbed him
George Washington served 2 terms as America’s first President from 1789 to 1797. The beloved general stepped away from public life, leaving the presidency for John Adams who defeated Jefferson by just 3 electoral votes. Adams knew he had big shoes to fill. Few Americans have ever been as revered as the man who won their freedom.
Adams knew he wasn’t nearly as endearing to the American people. But he embraced the highest office with a dignified sense of duty. Just like Washington, Adams had no interest in compromising his principals to win popularity. He was determined to steer the young nation away from division and to steadier waters. But that task would not be easy. Few presidents in history would ever govern during more turbulent and tumultuous times than the Bostonian. When John assumed the presidency the U.S. split into 2 political parties – the Federalists and the Democratic Republicans. The Federalists (Adams party) formed during Washington’s tenure. Even though John held the highest office, Alexander Hamilton became the face of the party that pushed for a larger, centralized government. The federalists favored northern industry to southern agrarianism. And preferred maintaining strong diplomatic ties with England against France.
On the other side of the isle stood the new Democratic Republican party led by Thomas Jefferson. This faction disdained large government. Fearing encroachment, it favored gravitating power toward state and local branches. This party comprised of mostly southern states. Members of this party feared the restoration of a king above all else. And were therefore overcome with joy when France deposed its monarchy.
Few countries in world history underwent a more drastic transformation than France in the late 18th century. Revolutionary fever infected the populace. And when John began his presidency, the royal family had been executed. The replacement government terrorized the French and murdered tens of thousands with the Guillotine. In 1797 the nation fell into the hands of the Directory which somewhat dispelled the chaos.
The Directory came to despise the U.S. because America under Washington had established trade with their greatest enemy, England. To France, this was an egregious insult. A slap in the face after all they had done to win America’s liberty. So, France authorized its navy to attack American vessels at sea. This was a declaration of war in all but name. And it put Adams in a very precarious situation. He did not want to go to war with such a staggering world power, but he also refused to be bullied. So, he gave orders to U.S. frigates to fire back if fired upon. The frightening predicament turned nightmarish when Adams faced the full brunt of the political backlash to his response. The Federalists (Hamilton) reprimanded Adams for not declaring war. Their optimistic sense of America’s chances in such a war were utterly delusional. On the other hand, the Democratic Republicans (Jefferson) made the absurd accusation that the hostilities were Adams’ fault. An equally ridiculous take.
Adams understood that American sea power was grossly lagging. He immediately ordered the construction of a grand navy. As a result, he founded the United States Department of the Navy, which is still active to this day.
As America advanced its strength in the Atlantic, President Adams sent the nation’s best diplomats to Paris to end hostilities. But when they arrived in France, the Directory immediately took them hostage. They demanded a ransom for their release to President Adams. This scandal, known infamously as the XYZ affair put the 2 countries a mere breadth away from all-out war. And yet Adams stayed the course. While he spent many sleepless nights feeling tormented, helpless, and desperate, he he did not give into his emotional impulses and strayed from rash decision making. It cannot be overstated how many U.S. Presidents would have failed here. Nearly all of them would have abandoned reason and made a ruinous decision with dire consequences for America.
When the hour was darkest, John Adams was saved by a young French general named Napoleon Bonaparte. The rising star solved the crisis by usurping the French government and installing himself as dictator. Napoleon was not interested in going to war with America and he ended hostilities between the countries.
By the end of John’s first term, he prevented war with France. He maintained trade with England. He kept the 2 parties in check, and there were now 30 modern American ships guarding the nation’s coastline.
Unfortunately, he would not get to serve a 2nd term. Alexander Hamilton published a scathing letter attacking Adams’s character. It tarnished his political reputation and convinced the American people that Adams failed them. Thomas Jefferson won the 1800 election and booted Adams from the newly constructed White House.
…to be continued