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Portrait of American President Gerald Ford dressed in a blue, pin-striped suit as he stands with his arms crossed, taken during his first month in office, August 1974. First official portrait of President Gerald R. Ford.

5 Fascinating Facts about the Births and Deaths of U.S. Presidents

Close up of a hand placing a ballot in a ballot box. Election vote voter voting

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President's bingo. Guess and select to correct president based on images.

Britannica’s U.S. Presidents Bingo

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

New Zealand. Political/Physical map. Includes locator.

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Orange basketball on black background and with low key lighting. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

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What were John Adams’s accomplishments?

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2025

John Adams was an advocate of American independence from Britain, a major figure in the Continental Congress (1774–77), the author of the Massachusetts constitution (1780), a signer of the Treaty of Paris (1783), ambassador to the Court of St. James (1785–88), and the first vice president (1789–97) and second president (1797–1801) of the United States.