Timeline Of John Adams

 

Michael Benton, Contributor

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timeline of john adamsThe timeline of John Adams life begins in 1735 in the colony of Massachusetts, ruled by the British, and end in 1826 in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America. John Adams' timeline of important events is rich with pivotal moments in the birth of the United States as he played a central role in the nation's founding. Arguing against the Stamp Act of 1765, representing his colony at the First Continental Congress in 1775 and signing the Declaration of Independence the following year as well as negotiating the Treaty of Paris to end the War of Independence in 1783 are all part of the timeline for John Adams before he became Vice President and, subsequently, the second President of the United States. Understanding the timeline for John Adams is central to understanding any timeline about the first years of the United States.

The timeline of John Adams' presidency should begin with his service as the Vice President for two terms under the Washington administration starting in 1789. During this time he used his tie-breaking vote to settle 29 votes in the Senate, a record that would last to this day. It wasn't until after the election of 1796 that Adams' presidency began, defeating Thomas Jefferson by a slim margin. Officially, the John Adams presidency timeline began at his inauguration on March 4th, 1797. By the law of the time, the second-place candidate became the Vice President and thus Adams biggest rival, Jefferson, became a part of his administration. Adams, a staunch Federalist, was opposed by Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans as well as Alexander Hamilton's faction of disillusioned Federalists. In 1798, Adams negotiated a treaty to end the Quasi-War being fought on the high seas between America and France. In the same year, Adams signed the Alien and Sedition Acts into law; these bills, introduced under the fear of something similar to the French Revolution occurring in the young United States, instituted a strict policy against any talk of rebellion. Adams failed in his bid for re-election in 1800, losing to Thomas Jefferson. Adams then retired from politics and concentrated on his family.

Another John Adams life timeline relates to his marriage and family. John Adams married Abigail Smith in 1764 when she was 19 years old and he was 29. They had five children, beginning with Abigail "Nabby" Adams in 1765, John Quincy Adams in 1767, Susanna Adams in 1768, Charles Adams in 1770, Thomas Boylston Adams in 1772 and Elizabeth, who was stillborn, in 1777. Susanna died of a childhood illness in 1770. John Adams did not spend much time at home as his duties to the nation required him to travel frequently, both to Philadelphia and to Europe. In 1800, his son Charles died of alcoholism; John had not spoken to him in two years because of the sinful manner in which he lived. His eldest son, John Quincy Adams, was victorious in election of 1824 and inaugurated as the sixth President of the United States in 1825. The John Adams timeline of events came to an end on July 4th, 1826 when he passed away in his home.