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Primary sourceSpeech8 December 1798

Second State of the Union Address

John Adams · 8 December 1798

Adams's 1798 annual message to Congress, delivered during rising tensions with France.

Adams delivered this address himself as president, making it a direct record of his words and priorities.

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About this source

What it is

This is the text of John Adams's second annual message to Congress, delivered in December 1798. In it, Adams addresses a recent epidemic and other matters of government during a period of strain with France.

Why it matters

As a primary record of a president speaking directly to Congress, the address shows Adams managing both public health concerns and the broader diplomatic crisis of his presidency, a time of near-war with France.

Look closer

  • Why does Adams begin by discussing disease before turning to other matters?
  • What tone does Adams take when addressing Congress, and why might that matter in a time of crisis?
  • What does this speech suggest about the president's relationship with Congress at this time?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Adams on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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