The administration of John Adams was a period of rapid change,
internal discord, and the continual threat of war. Few of the
nation's chief executives have been subjected to such immediate and
ever-present danger of foreign involvement and national
destruction, to such bitter animosities and serious cleavages
within their administrations, or to such constant need for decision
making as was John Adams. In the face of such adversity Adams
successfully pursued a policy of neutrality and conciliation and,
in so doing, provided time for the country to grow strong and to
prosper. Yet, despite the seriousness of the country's problems and
the contributions of his administration, he is seldom designated as
one of the great American presidents.
Of the many who helped create the nation and lead it through
those first difficult years, Adams alone has come to be judged
largely in terms of the descriptions and appraisals written by his
personal enemies and political detractors. Over the years,
historians have generally accepted and emphasized the weaknesses,
faults, and mistakes his opponents ascribed to him. In this volume,
however, Ralph Adams Brown presents a new evaluation of John dams
and of his four years in the presidency. The portrait drawn by
Adams's enemies disappears and the second president emerges as a
world citizen whose insight, judgment, and perseverance held the
young nation together in a critical period.
This volume focuses closely on the most significant aspect of
Adams's presidency, foreign affairs. As an emerging nation without
economic stability or military might, the United States could have
become hopelessly caught in the web of European intrigues and power
struggles. Adams not only faced serious problems with France and
Spain, but also had to be continually alert to the complexities of
the nation's relationship with Great Britain. Brown examines the
country's increasing concern with matters of defense, and traces
Adams's successful efforts to evade foreign entanglements.
Unfortunately, many of Adams's important decisions and policies
ran counter to the wishes of strong, ambitious, and verbal elements
in his own political party. Describing the vicious personal attacks
to wich Adams was subjected, and the devious and disloyal maneuvers
of his cabinet members, Brown traces Adams's difficulties with
Timothy Pickering, James McHenry, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Alexander
Hamilton, and others. He documents Adams's steadfastness to his
ideals and principles, despite the hostility, exaggerated
accusations, and perfidy that surrounded him.
Based on more than five years of intensive research, much of in
primary sources, Brown's study sheds new light on the many national
problems between 1797 and 1801. Most important, it stands as a
reassessment of Adams as a shrewd, sensitive, experienced diplomat;
a man of fiery beliefs tempered by superior insight and judgment; a
man who, despite his love of freedom and his enthusiasm for the the
American Revolution, feared war and mob violence; a man favored
broad social reforms and change of government by due process; a man
who contributed to the development of the presidency by working
diligently to maintain the independence and integrity of the
executive office.
General
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