John Quincy Adams

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Quincy was most motivated by his father, which was a prodigy in the American Revolution who would become the second United States president. John Quincy followed in his father’s footsteps to serve as the sixth president of the United States. At age 50, Adams created the Monroe Doctrine because the Latin American colonies declared independence. The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would not interfere or intervene in the affairs of the Latin American colonies. By 1824. John Quincy Adams was ready to become the next president of the United States. Running against Adams were southerners John C. Calhoun and William Crawford, and westerners Henry Clay and Andrew Jackson. The Electoral College couldn’t choose a president so the election was moved to the House of Representatives. Clay threw his support to Adams, who was elected on the first ballot. Adams’s victory shocked Jackson, who had won the popular vote and fully expected to be president. When Adams later appointed Clay secretary of state, Jackson Democrats cried "corrupt bargain," and was completely distraught. As president, John Quincy failed to develop the right political relationships to make the significant change. The country prospered during Adams’ presidency, but he was not a successful leader. He wanted to create a national university and expand the country’s roads. While these may have been amazing goals for an aspiring nation, they were considered overambitious and unrealistic for America in the 1820s. But in 1828, Adams developed in 1828 when he proposed a high tariff on imported industrial goods. This bill served to protect New England factories from European competitors. The Jacksonians in Congress opposed the tariff but amended it to include a tax on imported raw materials used in the New England factories. They hoped the additional tax would rally Northerners to join the Southerners in condemning the tariff. To the Jacksonians’ dismay, the New England legislators approved the tariff, and Adams signed the bill that the Virginia legislature called the “Tariff of Abominations.” Adams ran for reelection in 1828, Adams lost the election by a decisive margin, and he left Washington without attending Jackson’s inauguration.

John Quincy Adams was a great diplomat, despite that his presidency was a “fail”, his sense of duty to his country never wavered. Today’s railroads, canals, and turnpikes are all across the continent. Scientific exploration continues to reach deep into the ocean and too far distant galaxies. Even though they are not metric, our standards of weights and measures are uniform. These are all examples of John Quincy Adams’ “failed” presidency. From the beginning of America’s history, the hard working man obediently and repeatedly strove to improve his country.

Bibliography

“John Quincy Adams.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017,

www.biography.com/people/john-quincy-adams-9175983. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.

“John Quincy Adams .” Britannica School, school.eb.com/levels/high/article/John-Quincy-Adams/345450. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.

Walker, Jane C. John Quincy Adams. Berkeley Heights, NJ, Enslow, 2000.

John Quincy Adams: Life Before the Presidency.” Miller Center, 20 June 2017, millercenter.org/president/jqadams/life-before-the-presidency. Accessed 28 Sept. 2017.