John Adams: the record and the legends

Atlas of Independence. The 2nd president, 1797-1801, from Massachusetts. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 2nd
In office: 1797-1801
Home state: Massachusetts
Party: Federalist
Height: 5'7"

The record

RecordIn 1770 Adams agreed to defend the British soldiers charged in the Boston Massacre, the least popular case in Boston. He won acquittals for all of them, and his law practice kept growing anyway.Source: Miller Center, Adams: Life Before the Presidency
RecordAs the first vice president, Adams wanted the president called something grand, like His Majesty the President. One senator suggested Adams himself be called His Rotundity. The Senate went with Mr. President, and the nickname stuck to Adams.Source: White House Historical Association, John Adams
RecordAdams lost the 1800 election, but the real mess came after. Jefferson and his own running mate, Aaron Burr, tied at 73 electoral votes, and the House needed 36 ballots over five days to pick Jefferson.Source: Miller Center, Adams: Campaigns and Elections
RecordIn 1800 Adams approved $5,000 for books for the use of Congress. That was the start of the Library of Congress.Source: Library of Congress, History of the Library

The legends

LegendAdams and Jefferson are often remembered as enemies to the end. They were real rivals, and 1800 got personal. But they're also tied together in a stranger way: both men died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.Source: Miller Center, John Adams

What he cared about

Keeping the U.S. out of full war with France. He called the peace he made his greatest achievement.
A real navy. The Navy Department and the Marine Corps were organized under him.
Cracking down on foreigners and critics during the France crisis, with the Alien and Sedition Acts.

The full record

He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, which made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, let him deport noncitizens, and made some criticism of the government a crime. Ten people were convicted.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Short, stout and stubborn

Adams took the unpopular side again and again and never budged, from the Boston Massacre trial to peace with France. In the ring he's a stubborn brawler who won't give ground.

See POTUS KO

Questions about John Adams

Why did John Adams defend the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre?

In 1770 Adams agreed to defend the British soldiers charged in the Boston Massacre, the least popular case in Boston. He won acquittals for all of them, and his law practice kept growing anyway.

What was John Adams's nickname His Rotundity about?

As the first vice president, Adams wanted the president called something grand, like His Majesty the President. One senator suggested Adams himself be called His Rotundity. The Senate went with Mr. President, and the nickname stuck to Adams.

Did John Adams and Thomas Jefferson die on the same day?

Adams and Jefferson are often remembered as enemies to the end. They were real rivals, and 1800 got personal. But they're also tied together in a stranger way: both men died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.