Presidential Biographies | John Adams Administration - Adams Becomes President

The John Adams Administration

Partisan politics in the United States intensified during John Adams's presidency. Federalists, who supported a strong national government, lined up against Republicans, who favored power residing in the states. While war raged in Europe, controversy raged at home over how to handle foreign relations with France and Great Britain. Adams, himself a moderate Federalist, struggled with both Federalists and Republicans over the primary domestic issues of taxes and the development of a strong military. The competing political philosophies ultimately led to fracture of the Federalist Party and victory for the Republicans in the election of 1800.

Adams Becomes President

The Campaign of 1796

The election of 1796 was the first presidential competition...