His Presidency Was Characterized With Conflict
President John Adams served a single term from 1797 to 1801 as the second President of the United States, after George Washington. There was a lot of squabbling throughout his time in office. Under Washington’s leadership, the United States adhered to a strong policy of neutrality in international disputes. As tensions between Britain and France rose, Adams found it difficult to maintain that strategy.
Adams dispatched peacemakers to France, but they were unsuccessful. Even though President Roosevelt was well aware that the United States could not win a war in its infancy, he was able to rally support for a “Quasi-War” that included naval harassment of French vessels. Because they understood that their struggle was futile, France and America agreed to peace in 1800.