Why did john adams not get reelected

John Adams failed to obtain a second term because of how poorly his first term went.

He passed some controversial laws and even declared the "Quasi War", an undeclared naval war with France.

He was also facing Thomas Jefferson, a very popular candidate at the time.

Nationalism created a standoff between countries trying to prove who was better. This increased tension boiled over until Archdule Franz Ferdinand was killed.