John Adams became the second President of the United States in a ceremony held at the nation's second temporary capital in Philadelphia on March 4, 1797.
XYZ Affair
Strained relations with France forced President Adams to send three ministers to Paris to negotiate a settlement. In Paris Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, the French foreign minister, repeatedly refused to meet with the American ministers. At length the Americans were approached by three French ministers and told that in order to see Talleyrand the Americans would have to pay a bribe of $240,000 and agree to loan the French government $10 million. President Adams substituted the names of the three French ministers with the letters X, Y, and Z when he made the affair public.
Nation's Capitol Moved
In 1800 the nation's capitol was moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C.. President Adams became the first U.S. President to reside in the unfinished executive mansion that would later be known as the White House.
Legislation
Navy Department Created
In May of 1798 Congress created the Navy Department in order to force French warships out of American waters.
Army Created
In July of 1798 Congress approved the creation of a 10,000 man army to defend the country against an anticipated French invasion.
Alien and Sedition Acts
During the summer of 1798 President Adams signed into law the Alien and Sedition Acts. Under the stipulation of these acts, aliens could be banished from the country during peacetime, and editors could be jailed for "scandalous or malicious" writing against the President or Congress.
Convention of 1800
In 1800 a settlement was reached between the United States and France that averted war between the two countries. The agreement nullified the Franco-American treaties of 1778.
Judiciary Act of 1801
Congress passed the Judiciary Act in February of 1801. The Act increased the number of federal circuit courts, judges, marshals, attorneys, and clerks.
