[Cheburashka]

Adams and his allies built up the navy which the foolish Jeffersonians opposed, and Jefferson’s ally Madison eventually used it in the nation’s defense.

---

Jefferson used Adams’ navy as well. Without Adams’ navy, especially the frigates that Jefferson strenuously opposed, Jefferson himself would have had no warships capable of reaching the Mediterranean and fighting the Barbary pirates.

[hellbender]

Yes. Jefferson was something of the Ron Paul of his day. He thought a bunch of wimpy little gunboats would suffice to protect the U.S.

When people criticize Adams for the Alien & Sedition Acts, they do not realize what the country was up against. There was a world war going on between Britain and revolutionary fascist France. There were fools in America who were willing to be tools of the French.

Adams was a patriot and one of the greatest of the Founders. Although Jefferson had allowed his supporters to slander Adams, in their old age, the two great men became friends.