Inspecting John Adams's Foreign Policy Record

Written by Will Wigginton

John Adams: Served as President from 1797-1801

Personal Characteristics:

Empathetic: Adams, contrary to many of his colleagues, discussed his disgust of slavery. For he could have saved much money for the free labor of slavery, but refused as he saw it as inhumane and unjust, unlike those who did own slaves for financial benefit.

Thoughtful, yet Sometimes Overzealous: A Founding Father of the U.S. in every sense, especially in terms of Enlightenment thinking, Adams was a Harvard educated lawyer who was extremely qualified. On the flip-side, Adams was overzealous in terms of gaining more political achievement, as was shown in his letter to his wife when he was Vice President, in which he lamented his role. Adams would become overzealous in office when he hypocritically oversaw the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which undoubtedly revoked some inalienable rights that Adams had so vociferously championed during the Revolution.

The International Context:

The Jay treaty: As a result of the French Revolution and ensuing Jay Treaty to calm the U.S.-British relations, the Treaty inadvertently came across as a militaristic alliance between the two from the perspective of the French.

The XYZ Affair: Because of the tarnished relations between the U.S. and French from the Jay Treaty, the XYZ affair furthered distrust between the two sides. Adams then attempted to rebuild relations by sending American diplomats to France. At first, French officials led by its Prime Minister, Charles Talleyrand, refused to meet with them and “demanded a $250,000 personal bribe and a $10 million loan for his financially strapped country before he would begin peace negotiations.”

Napoleon: Concluding the XYZ affair and the reopening of relations between the U.S. and French in late 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte became the head of the French government, showing possible signs that the volatility in France during the decade would be coming to an end.

Key Foreign Policies:

Trade Policies: While admittedly isolationist during the Revolutionary War period, Adams, to his credit, did take into account “the needs and desires of the New England commercial and fishing interests” during the Treaty of Paris negotiations.

Alien and Sedition Acts: While these were domestic laws that did impact American citizens, they were used as a foil to foreign agents residing in the country with the hope of indirectly forcing them out.

Hardline Policies Toward the French: Even though peace would win out between the two sides, Adams did intend to carry out war if it came. This resulted in him bolstering the Navy, coastal defenses, and accounting for the possibility of a provisional army.

Positive Achievements:

Treaty of Paris Successes: Adams’ desire to protect the interests of shipping and trading in New England paid off. “The provisions in the final treaty covering fishing rights and liberties were due particularly to Adams’ concern” Albeit not a large achievement, but it did highlight Adams’ negotiating acumen prior to his time as both Vice President and President.

Salvaging Relations with France: The fallout with France following the Jay Treaty could have become bloody. Adams’ ability to move past the XYZ affair and partake in peace negotiations with the French is an achievement in its own right, especially since Adams had expended resources to enhance the military in preparation for war. Patience and defense led to this becoming an achievement during his Administration.

Treaty of Mortefontaine: The result of Adams accepting peace talks with the French concluded with the signing of the Treaty by Napoleon. This Treaty “released the United States from its Revolutionary War alliance with France and brought an end to the Quasi-war,” which Adams considered to be his crowning achievement in his years of public service.

Negative Drawbacks:

Failed Trade Relations Prior to Presidency: While not necessarily a drawback, it is one shared by Adams, Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, who attempted to increase trade relations with Europe in the mid-1780s. Their attempted liberalization of global trade mostly failed, which created anti-trade sentiments at the time between Adams and Jefferson.

Final Grade: A/ While not a remarkably volatile foreign policy career, in both good and bad ways, Adams did enough to earn an A here. He did not have to deal with the impending Barbary state conflicts like Jefferson, nor did he have to figure out how to guide the genesis of U.S. foreign relations like Washington. He did, however, steer America through any foreign policy troubles it may have faced. Most importantly, his achievement to rebuild relations with the French earns him an A. The effects of the Jay Treaty turned out to not be enough to bury his desire for peace, which he achieved with a war-hungry leader in Napoleon.

References:

Norman A. Graebner, “Thomas Jefferson, Republican Values, Foreign Commerce,” Traditions and Values: American Diplomacy 1790-1865, vol. 7, ed. (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002).
Taylor, C. James, C. James Taylor Former Editor-in-Chief, C. James Taylor, and Former Editor-in-Chief. “John Adams: Foreign Affairs.” Miller Center, June 19, 2017. https://millercenter.org/president/adams/foreign-affairs.
Wayne S. Cole, “The Diplomacy Of The American Revolution,” An Interpretive History of American Foreign Relations (Homewood, IL : The Dorsey Press, 1968).
“John Adams.” The White House. The United States Government, December 23, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/john-adams/.