John Quincy Adams The Sixth President of the United States of America

Background Information Born on July 11, 1767 to John and Abigail Adams His youth was spent with his father overseas, studying at top European Universities and becoming fluent in several languages Graduated from Harvard University, and began practicing law in Boston shortly after Was appointed as Minister to the Netherlands by President Washington in Was appointed as Minister to Prussia in 1797 by his father, when he decided to dedicate his life to public service. Was already known as one of the finest American diplomats. Born on July 11, 1767 to John and Abigail Adams His youth was spent with his father overseas, studying at top European Universities and becoming fluent in several languages Graduated from Harvard University, and began practicing law in Boston shortly after Was appointed as Minister to the Netherlands by President Washington in Was appointed as Minister to Prussia in 1797 by his father, when he decided to dedicate his life to public service. Was already known as one of the finest American diplomats.

Political Life Political Life Was elected to the U.S. Senate but broke from the Federalist Party after he supported President Jefferson’s Embargo Act and Louisiana Purchase. He later served as the first ever Minister to Russia in the Madison Administration, during which he negotiated the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of He was appointed Secretary of State in the Monroe Administration, during which he wrote the Monroe Doctrine (warning European nations against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere) and the Adams-Onis Treaty, which acquired Florida from Spain. John Quincy Adams ran for President in the 1824 election, winning in a controversial manner; the election was decided by the House of Representatives as no candidate won the majority of electoral votes. Was elected to the U.S. Senate but broke from the Federalist Party after he supported President Jefferson’s Embargo Act and Louisiana Purchase. He later served as the first ever Minister to Russia in the Madison Administration, during which he negotiated the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of He was appointed Secretary of State in the Monroe Administration, during which he wrote the Monroe Doctrine (warning European nations against further colonization in the Western Hemisphere) and the Adams-Onis Treaty, which acquired Florida from Spain. John Quincy Adams ran for President in the 1824 election, winning in a controversial manner; the election was decided by the House of Representatives as no candidate won the majority of electoral votes.

PresidencyPresidency Adams was inaugurated using a book of laws as opposed to the traditional bible, demonstrating his belief in the separation of church and state. He proposed an extensive program of internal improvements including roads, canals, and a national university. He lowered the national debt from 16 million to 5 million, but many of his internal improvement proposals were killed off by an unusually hostile Jacksonian faction in Congress. However, he still managed to enact an extension of the Cumberland Road into Ohio, the construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Louisville and Portland Canal, among a few other achievements. His defense of the Native Americans angered many Jacksonians and settlers. Adams was inaugurated using a book of laws as opposed to the traditional bible, demonstrating his belief in the separation of church and state. He proposed an extensive program of internal improvements including roads, canals, and a national university. He lowered the national debt from 16 million to 5 million, but many of his internal improvement proposals were killed off by an unusually hostile Jacksonian faction in Congress. However, he still managed to enact an extension of the Cumberland Road into Ohio, the construction of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Louisville and Portland Canal, among a few other achievements. His defense of the Native Americans angered many Jacksonians and settlers.

Post-PresidencyPost-Presidency Adams lost his bid for re-election in 1828 to Andrew Jackson Adams did not leave political life--he instead ran for a seat in the House of Representatives, which he served in until his death. Adams became a strong abolitionist later in life, often using his congressional seat to speak out against it. Adams predicted that the President could use his war powers to abolish slavery, which turned into reality when President Lincoln did so with the Emancipation Proclamation. Adams lost his bid for re-election in 1828 to Andrew Jackson Adams did not leave political life--he instead ran for a seat in the House of Representatives, which he served in until his death. Adams became a strong abolitionist later in life, often using his congressional seat to speak out against it. Adams predicted that the President could use his war powers to abolish slavery, which turned into reality when President Lincoln did so with the Emancipation Proclamation.

Involvement in Amistad Case John Quincy Adams spoke in favor of the defendants in the Amistad case in the Supreme Court Case involving the illegal trading of slaves. The case involved slaves who had rebelled and wound up in the U.S. Adams successfully argued that because the slaves were illegally acquired in Africa (after the abolition of the slave trade, but while slavery itself was legal) then the slaves were not slaves at all, and should be freed. This was in defiance of the Van Buren government, who were eager to find against the slaves to not anger the south. This demonstrated his passion for public service, his anti-slavery advocacy, and his criticism of the overreaching of the executive government of Martin Van Buren in judicial affairs. John Quincy Adams spoke in favor of the defendants in the Amistad case in the Supreme Court Case involving the illegal trading of slaves. The case involved slaves who had rebelled and wound up in the U.S. Adams successfully argued that because the slaves were illegally acquired in Africa (after the abolition of the slave trade, but while slavery itself was legal) then the slaves were not slaves at all, and should be freed. This was in defiance of the Van Buren government, who were eager to find against the slaves to not anger the south. This demonstrated his passion for public service, his anti-slavery advocacy, and his criticism of the overreaching of the executive government of Martin Van Buren in judicial affairs.

Points to Ponder John Quincy Adams is a strong example of the fact that the President does not have sole authority over the government. He was not able to enact many of his ideas that may have been very successful because of opposition from Jacksonian Democrats. He is also a strong example of the idea of a public servant. He served his country faithfully, ranging from diplomatic positions to Senator to President to Representative. It is also important to understand what he did outside of his actual Presidential term--this shows his commitment to American ideals which he tried to uphold even at an old age arguing in front of the Supreme Court. John Quincy Adams is a strong example of the fact that the President does not have sole authority over the government. He was not able to enact many of his ideas that may have been very successful because of opposition from Jacksonian Democrats. He is also a strong example of the idea of a public servant. He served his country faithfully, ranging from diplomatic positions to Senator to President to Representative. It is also important to understand what he did outside of his actual Presidential term--this shows his commitment to American ideals which he tried to uphold even at an old age arguing in front of the Supreme Court.