John Adams

John Adams


     John Adams, who became the second president of the United States, has

been accused by some historians of being the closest thing America ever had to a

dictator or monarch (Onuf, 1993). Such strong accusations should be examined in

the context of the era in which Mr. Adams lived and served. A closer examination

of the historical events occurring during his vice presidency and his term as

president, strongly suggests that Adams was not, in fact, a dictator. Indeed,

except for his lack of charisma and political charm, Adams had a very successful

political career before joining the new national government. He was, moreover,

highly sought after as a public servant during the early formation of the new

federal power (Ferling, 1992).

     Adams was a well educated, seasoned patriot, and experienced diplomat.

He was the runner-up in the election in which George Washington was selected the

first United States President. According to the electoral-college system of that

time, the second candidate with the most electoral votes became the Vice

President (Smelser & Gundersen, 1975). As president, Washington appointed, among

others, two influential political leaders to his original cabinet; Thomas

Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson, a veteran politician became the

Secretary of State and Hamiliton, a young, outspoken New Yorker lawyer, became

the Secretary of the Treasury (Ferling, 1992). Jefferson, like Adams, had also

signed the Declaration of Independence. Hamilton, however, was the only cabinet

member relatively unknown to Adams (Ferling, 1992). It was Hamilton, nonetheless,

who excelled during this new administration by initiating numerous, innovative,

and often controversial programs, many of which were quite successful. Adams and

Hamil ton were both Federalists. Unlike Hamiliton, Adams was more moderate

(Smelser & Gundersen, 1975). During this first administration, Adams and

Hamilton quarreled (Washington Retires, 1995), and Adams contemptuously began

referring to Hamilton as “his puppyhood” (DeCarolis, 1995). This created a rift

in the administration, for Washington generally favored Hamiliton (Smelser &

Gundersen, 1975), and disregarded Adams (Ferling, 1992). Hamilton also went to

great lengths to drive Jefferson out of the cabinet (Allison, 1966). Jefferson

did finally, indeed, resign from the cabinet. The Federalists “party,” of which

Hamiliton was the leader (DeCarolis, 1995) was greatly divided and even violent,

at times, under his leadership (Allison, 1966). This is significant in assessing

Hamilton’s and others’ arguments of Adams being a dictator after his

presidential victory in 1796 A.D.

     There are several traits that were conspicuous about John Adams. First,

he was known as an honest man of integrity (Ferling, 1992; Smelser & Gundersen,

1975). He was also often described as “stubborn,” quick-tempered, and even

cantankerous at times (Liesenfelt, 1995; Smelser & Gundersen, 1975; Wood, 1992).

He was, however, quite intelligent and apparently had a secure self-esteem,

being quite willing the challenge tradition (Wood, 1992). Adams was an intensely

self-introspective man, though confident (Calhoon, 1976).

     By 1795, conflict was raging with France. Washington made it clear that

he was not returning to office. This, for the first time, provided the impulse

for the two differing political philosophies to align into separate parties,

even though the Federalists never considered themselves to be a party (Wood,

1992). Hamilton tried to by-pass Adams by nominating Carolinian Thomas Pickney

(Ferling, 1992). He had instigated a similar conspiracy to keep Adams from

defeating Washington in the second national election, as Adams had discovered

(DeCarolis, 1995). In spite of the divided Federalists, Adams defeated Thomas

Jefferson by three electoral votes. He became the second president and Jefferson,

having the second largest number of votes, became vice-president. This event,

too, is significant because for the first time in office here were two men of

totally different ph
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