An Overview of John Adams' Administration

As President, John Adams fought a split in his own party over his determination to avoid war with France. He kept the peace, but in the process he lost a second term as President.

During Adams' term, the federal government moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., Eli Whitney introduced the system of interchangeable parts in his firearms factory, the first woolen mills began operating in Massachusetts, and Congress established the Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps.

Vice-President and Cabinet
Vice-President	Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of State	Timothy Pickering John Marshall (1800)
Secretary of the Treasury	Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Samuel Dexter (1801)
Secretary of War	James McHenry Samuel Dexter (1800)
Attorney General	Charles Lee
Secretary of the Navy	Benjamin Stoddert


United States Events During His Administration
Territories Organized Mississippi (1798), Indiana (1800) Population in 1797 4,900,000
1797	The XYZ Affair almost led to war with France.
1798	The 11th Amendment, limiting the powers of the federal courts, was proclaimed.
1798	The Department of the Navy was organized by Congress.
1798	The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed.
1798-1799	Kentucky and Virginia resolutions declared the Alien and Sedition Acts unconstitutional.
1800	The Capital was moved to Washington, D.C.
1800	The Library of Congress was established by Congress.


World Events During His Administration
1797	Andrè Garnerin of France made the world's first parachute jump from a balloon.
1798	Napoleon led an invasion of Egypt.
1798	French troops invaded the Swiss Republic.
1799	Napoleon became dictator of France.
1800	Spain restored Louisiana Province to France.
1801	Ireland became part of the United Kingdom.

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Eli Whitney
Thomas Jefferson
Timothy Pickering
John Marshall
XYZ Affair
Napoleon
Ireland

This page was last updated on 02/18/2009.

THE ROBINSON LIBRARY
American History.--United States: General History and Description.--Revolution to the Civil War, 1775/1783-1861.--Constitutional Period, 1789-1809.--John Adams' Administration, 1797-1801.

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