One person can make a difference. The contributions of President John Adams in the economic history of America have had a positive impact to the country. In his early life, he was a brilliant, blunt speaking man with an independent mind. The fervent patriot and intellectual began to take part in politics at an early age. Adams was the eldest among three sons who took responsibility at an early age. Born on October 30, 1735 in Massachusetts which is currently referred to as Quincy, he was much engrossed in the ways of his father who had many impacts in his life. He commonly praised the father and was close to his as a child without interacting too much with the mother.
The then to be president originated from a modest family and gained responsibility early with a burning desire to live up to the expectations of his heritage. At the age of sixteen in the year 1751, he went to the Harvard College whereby he studied law after much conviction to the father. Contrary to the expectations of the father who wanted him to become a minister, Adams studied law writing to his father that he found among lawyers `noble and gallant achievements’ but among the clergy `pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces’. He later became a Unitarian and took his practice as a lawyer in the office of a prominent lawyer in Worcester. Though he was not a popular leader, his works were very influential as a constitutional lawyer. He had thorough knowledge of law and his influence was depicted in his analysis of historical examples and his dedication to the codes of republicanism.
Political life
As a thoughtful and learned person, Adams was a remarkable political philosopher. He became identified with the patriot course when he became a delegate to the first and second Continental Congress that led in the movement of independence. Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson in the year 1772 declared that he and his judges would not have to be paid by the legislature, because they could obtain their salaries from the revenues of the customs. The people protested and demanded that John Adams should argue the case on their behalf so as to state their objectives.
He then argued that the colonists were not under the sovereignty of the parliament and would therefore choose independence if no agreement was drawn. This was based on that the basic cheater was with the king to whom the colonists owed their allegiance. He argued against the governor by giving an extensive argument against the British imperial policy. This was done with an attempt to describe the origins, nature and jurisdiction of the British policies. In the first and second Continental Congresses that he was send as representative to promote union among the colonies, he had too much influence and sought to split from Britain fully.
Contributions of John Adams and analysis of his life and works
As a political leader and the second president of the United States of America, John Adams has had various contributions in economy, politically and socially. Some of the things that he is known and remembered for relate to:
Constitutional ideology
In 1780, the Massachusetts's new constitution was ratified and was largely documented by Adams himself. These laws gave a structure of the government basically on the views that he held on the values of politics and the society as a whole. This constitution was written by a special committee and ratified by the people and was rated as the first of its kind in the history of the state. It was featuring a bicameral legislature, a separate judicial branch and a clear separate executive that consisted of a two- thirds vote.
In writing the constitution, Adams gave a consideration of the central role that educational institutions would play in the life of the commonwealth. He quoted that it would be the role of the parliament with reference to the legislatures and magistrates in all future periods to support the interests of literature and the sciences. He said that it was upon them to promote private societies and public institutions so as to create sustainable agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures and natural history of the country (David 145).
Currently, most institutions have come up to present a full measure of knowledge and maintained the social, cultural and economic factors of life. A continuous, constantly changing and stable economic tool has been created that is geared to the development of new skills, innovations, technology and industries. He emphasized that institutions needed to be managed since they were developers and employers of talent, storehouses of cultural resources, incubators of industry and business and research centers as well as economic magnets and community partners (Bruce 47).
The Quasi-War and peace with France
The working term of Adams was characterized by intense disputes arising from the appropriation of foreign policy and the desire to stay out of the growing conflict with Europe. There was war between Britain and France where the French wanted Jefferson to be elected as the president while the British wanted Hamilton and the Federalists. When Jefferson failed to win the election, the French became even more hostile. The French saw America as partners with Britain and began to capture their merchant ships. This however came to an end with the XYZ affair where negotiations had to be made and where several bribes were demanded by France before treaties could begin. This led to demand for a full scale war by the Americans which was not acceptable to Adams.
A strategy was began that would employ harassing the ships of the French so as to stop the assaults. This became the undeclared naval quasi war the broke out in 1798. When the war intensified, Adams despite threats to his popularity, sought peace with France since he foresaw that victory against imperial France would be impossible (John 123)
He began peace treaties in 1799 with Napoleon who on realizing the war was pointless, began to prepare for friendly relations. The Treaty of Alliance was drawn in 1778 that freed the United States from foreign hitches. As a result, the popularity of John faded and most of his party members split. He however remained proud of bringing peace among the two countries and even requested that his tombstones bear the writings that there lay a man who took responsibility of peace upon himself with France in the year 1800.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Even after the XYZ Affair, the democratic republicans still opposed the federalists and there was still thirst for war. Most of them desired events similar to the French revolution to happen disrupt and overthrow the Federalists. For instance, when some democratic republicans refused to enhance laws of the federal state, threatening to rebel, the federalist threatened to bring an army that would cause them to submit. Treaties and acts were signed by John Adams in 1798 so as to calm the opposition. These treaties included the Naturalization Act that changed the period of residence before an immigrant to become a citizen, the Alien and Alien Enemies Acts which allowed the president to deport dangerous foreigner and the Sedition Act that forbid the publishing of any scandalous or malicious.
The laws that Adams signed proved to be controversial and most foreigners went back to their countries without being forced to. The parties began to respect each other for fear of the laws and this led to the bitter and volatile elections in 1800. Prosecution was rampant and after the democrats won the election, they continued to use these acts against the federalists until they expired. These works of John proved to be bad especially to a certain group of people and caused inequality and inequalities.
Other contributions of John Adams relate to his exemplary writings that were available in his lifetime. For instance, he published a book entitled A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States in 1787 in which he rejected the thoughts and views of Turgot on the ferocity of the plan of the state governments. He suggested that the rich and the noble be set apart from the others in a senate. He argued that social institutions existed in all societies and he opposed slave trade maintaining the declaration of rights in the constitution. In general, Adams brought an aspect of free reign in the states by promoting peace and proper interacted (John, 234).
Work cited
John, Adams. John Adams. Chicago: Times Books, 2003. Print.
John, Adams. Volume 6 of American Statesman. Chicago: Houghton, Mifflin and
Company, 2005.
David, McCullough. John Adams. California: Simon and Schuster, 2001.
John, Murrin. Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People. New York:
Cengage Learning, 2011.
Barbara, Newman. Development Through Life: A Psychological Approach. Chicago:
Cengage Learning, 2011.
Bruce, Jansson. The Reluctant Welfare State: Engaging History to Advance Social Work
Practice in Contemporary Society. Washington: Cengage Learning, 2011.
Carol, Berkin. Making America: A History of the United States. Chicago: Cengage
Learning, 2011.
