Presidents of the United States: George Washington and John Adams

George Washington (1732- 1799)

 

George Washington was one of the founding fathers of the United States. As a child and throughout his teenager years he lived in Virginia where he grew up along with the higher nobility Fairfax family whose daughter Sally he became close friends with.

 

Despite his feelings for Sally he decided to be with Martha Dandridge Custis, an intelligent and influential widow who helped him to a political career - thanks to her countless important acquaintance and financial means.

 

Military and Politics

 

After a short military career Washington started his political path in 1759 as a member of parliament in the “House of Burgesses” and made himself a name throughout the war of independence against Great Britain. After a first defeat he later was able to win against the British army in the battle of Yorktown due to being supported by the French.

 

Presidency: 1789 - 1797

 

Washington realized early that the confederation articles did not much but tie down the states in inflexible rules. He asked for a constitutional reform and took the lead in the “Constitutional Convention” in 1787.

In 1789 Washington was voted first president concordantly by the ten participating states. John Adams was voted vice president.

 

As the first US president George Washington founded the Supreme Court (1789) and the “Bank of the United States”, arranged a census of population, included the states of Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee into the confederation and added ten amendments to the Bill of Rights.

 

Resigning before his possible third mandate set an example for the presidents to follow. Except for Franklin D. Roosevelt all US presidents have conserved this tradition until today and have never served more than two mandates.

 

Throughout the 8 years as a president George Washington had never been a member of a political party. His nickname as a “federalist” has his origin in his efforts to install a national authority which was to stand above the single states. This made him the spiritual father of the later founded Federal Party.

 

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (born 1731, † 1802)

 

When she was 18 years old, Martha Dandrige got married to the rich Mr. Danile Parke Cistis. Her husband died in 1757, when both of their children were still very young. Only two years later, Martha got married to the 26 years old George Washington and became the first “First Lady” of the United States. Back then, Martha was the richest woman of Virginia.

 

Unfortunately Martha was just not happy. She wrote a letter to her niece stating that she sometimes felt like a prisoner, who was told what to do and what not. She really wanted to spend more time at home, but this was not possible.

Despite her feelings, her husband and her children always came first. Furthermore, due to her family background, she was always diplomatic and discreet.

 

After George Washington died, Martha burned all the letters she wrote to her husband in order to keep her privacy.

 

 

 

John Adams (1735-1826)

John Adams, first vice president of the United States of America, was the second President from 1797 to 1801.

 

Attorney Adams started an early career as a journalist and wrote, among others, about the development of the colonies. In 1764 he married Abigail Smith who connected him with the high society.

Adams was very engaged in the independence from Great Britain and securing the colonies the rights they needed. Along with Franklin, Jefferson, Livingston, and Sherman he worked hard for the elaboration of the declaration of independence. He also took part in the development of the constitution in Massachusetts in 1780.

 

In the presidential election of 1796 Adams won over his adversary Thomas Jefferson with 71 to 68 votes and was officially inaugurated on March 4th of 1797.

 

Adam’s term in office was under the influence of the French Revolution and the war between the French and British. Another shadow over his mandate was the many intrigues he had to deal with. The capital of the USA was moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. and the two party systems with the federalists and republicans were developed.

After his time as the President of the United States of America, Adams retired from his political career.

 

Abigail Smith Adams (born 1744, * 1918)

 

Abigail was born in 1744. Like many other women during that time, she lacked formal education and started to read books on her own. This reading brought her closer to John Adams and the two of them got married in 1764.

 

Within 10 years the family grew larger. Abigail gave birth to three sons and two daughters and she stayed at home taking care of everything, when John was travelling.

 

After joining John Adams in Paris in 1784, where she observed the manners of the French with great interest, she and John returned to Massachusetts in 1788.

 

In 1791 Abigail’s health was not in the best condition and she had to slow down a little bit.

 

In 1801, when the government period for Adams was over, Abigail and John were enjoying a life in public, which they could not do before!