John Adams:

John Adams was an American statesman and Founding Father who served as the first Vice President and second President of the United States.

Born: October 30, 1735, Braintree, MA

Died: July 4, 1826, Quincy, MA

Presidential term: March 4, 1797 – March 4, 1801

John Adams cast the second-most tie-breaking votes (29) among presidents of the Senate of the United States

Alien and sedition act: reduce the political power of immigrants to the united states

XYZ Affair: While Adams was president, the French were regularly harassing American ships at sea. Adams attempted to stop this by sending ministers to France. However, they were turned aside. The french officials demand a bribe from U.S. diplomats.

In 1770, Adams defended British soldiers accused of killing five colonists on Boston Green in what became known as the Boston Massacre. Even though he disagreed with British policies, he wanted to ensure the British soldiers got a fair trial.

Adams was sent to France in 1778 and later in 1782. During the second trip he helped create the Treaty of Paris with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay which ended the American Revolution.

John Adams was an important figure throughout the revolution and the early years of the presidency. He was one of only two presidents who signed the Declaration of Independence. The crisis with France dominated most of his time in office. He was faced with opposition to actions he took concerning France from both parties. However, his perseverance allowed the fledgling United States to avoid war giving it more time to build and grow before having to worry about military action

Thomas Jefferson:

Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809.

Born: April 13, 1743, Shadwell, VA

Died: July 4, 1826, Monticello, VA

Spouse: Martha Jefferson (m. 1772–1782)

Presidential term: March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809

One of the most significant achievements of Jefferson’s first administration was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million in 1803. At more than 820,000 square miles, the acquisition (which included lands extending between the Mississippi River and Rocky Mountains and the Gulf of Mexico to present-day Canada) effectively doubled the size of the United States. 

Jefferson implemented the Embargo Act of 1807. The act, which closed U.S. ports to foreign trade, proved unpopular with Americans and hurt the U.S. economy. It was repealed in 1809 and, despite the president’s attempts to maintain neutrality, the U.S. ended up going to war against Britain in 1812.

President Jefferson's first term in office was remarkably successful and productive. In keeping with his Republican values, Jefferson stripped the presidency of all the trappings of European royalty, reduced the size of the armed forces and government bureaucracy and lowered the national debt from $80 million to $57 million in his first two years in office

 The greatest challenges of Jefferson's second term were posed by the war between Napoleonic France and Great Britain. Both Britain and France attempted to prevent American commerce with the other power by harassing American shipping, and Britain in particular sought to impress American sailors into the British Navy.In response, Jefferson passed the Embargo Act of 1807, suspending all trade with Europe. 

John Marshall:

John James Marshall was an American politician and the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1835. A native of Virginia, he was the last chief justice born a British subject prior to the American Revolutionary War.

Born: September 24, 1755, Germantown, Virginia, VA

Died: July 6, 1835, Philadelphia, PA

Party: Federalist Party

Appointed secretary of state by: John Adam

Marshall was appointed lieutenant with a state militia called the Culpeper Minuteman, which was later absorbed by the Continental Army's 11th Regiment of Virginia. The Patriot militia achieved victory against the British Royal Army at the Battle of Great Bridge, freeing Virginia from British rule.

Marshall proved his bravery and fortitude during the Battle of Brandywine, where he fought relentlessly from dawn to dusk. At the Battle of Germantown, he was wounded in the hand while leading a charge. At Valley Forge, George Washington appointed Marshall his chief

legal officer.

In 1788, Marshall became a delegate to the state convention that had been formed to ratify the United States' Constitution. He was a powerful advocate for replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.

One of Marshall's first landmark cases was Marbury v. Madison, which established the basis of judicial review. The case went to the Supreme Court in 1803, following a hostile history: Toward the end of John Adams's term (while Marshall was serving as secretary of state), Adams had made William Marbury justice of the peace for the District of Columbia. Instead of handing over the commission to Marbury himself, Marshall left the document for his successor as secretary of state, James Madison, to deliver.