John Adams - Biography.

John Adams - Biography. 2nd president of the United States Birth October 30, 1735 Death July 4, 1826 Home State Massachusetts Party Federalist Term In Office 1797-1801 Vice President Thomas Jefferson Significant Acts Signed the Alien and Sedition Acts, a set of unpopular laws that in 1798 limited free speech and dissent. Reluctantly revealed the XYZ Affair, a foreign diplomatic scandal in 1798. Signed a treaty with Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800 that prevented war between the United States and France. Appointed several conservative judges in 1800 during the last hours of his presidency; these became known as the 'midnight judges.' Career 1765 Led the Massachusetts protest against the Stamp Act. 1774-1777 Served as Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress. 1776 Helped draft the Declaration of Independence. 1778 Became commissioner to France. 1782-1783 Helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American War of Independence. 1785-1788 Served as American minister to Great Britain. 1789-1796 Served as vice president under George Washington. 1797-1801 President of the United States. 1801 Retired to Quincy, Massachusetts. Did You Know Adams was the first president to live in the White House, then known as the Executive Mansion. Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Adams's vice president, Thomas Jefferson, was Adams's chief rival and belonged to a different political party. Until the presidential election of 2000, Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, were the only father and son who both became president. American revolutionary leader Samuel Adams was John Adams's cousin. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.