Changes

==Congress again==

==Congress again==

After being defeated by [[Andrew Jackson]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1828|1828 Presidential election]], Adams retired in Quincy, Massachusetts.  However, in 1830 he ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives as a member of the [[Whig Party]].  While many speculated that Adams ran solely to earn money, this was not the case, as he had sufficient funds to last him the rest of his life.  Adams probably ran for his Congressional seat for a combination of several reasons, chief among them the fact that he tried to raise his children in the same way he was raised, which is to say they spent lots of time away from home, which had a very negative impact on one of his sons, who died untimely.  Adams, a former president, may have subjected himself to the humiliation of serving as a freshman Congressman as a sort of penance.  

After being defeated by [[Andrew Jackson]] in the [[United States presidential election, 1828|1828 presidential election]], Adams retired in Quincy, Massachusetts.  However, in 1830 he ran and won a seat in the House of Representatives as a member of the [[Whig Party]].  While many speculated that Adams ran solely to earn money, this was not the case, as he had sufficient funds to last him the rest of his life.  Adams probably ran for his Congressional seat for a combination of several reasons, chief among them the fact that he tried to raise his children in the same way he was raised, which is to say they spent lots of time away from home, which had a very negative impact on one of his sons, who died untimely.  Adams, a former president, may have subjected himself to the humiliation of serving as a freshman Congressman as a sort of penance.

 

===Anti-slavery===

===Anti-slavery===

The "Old Man Eloquent," as he was called, won renewed respect throughout the North as an opponent of slavery. Although never an abolitionist, Adams fought the extension of slavery in the territories. The [[Missouri Compromise]] of 1820 provoked a series of intense debates on slavery between Adams and [[John C. Calhoun]] that changed them from admiring friends into bitter enemies. Both men were brilliant students of political philosophy, and both were committed to [[republicanism]].  Both recognized the necessity of reconciling republican government with the issues of slavery and race, Adams vilified the practice of slavery as inherently corrupt and un-republican and preached total abolition. Calhoun countered that the right to slavery not only should be protected from interference from the federal government but was fundamental to republican government. The national debate led both men to consider dissolution of the Union as a way of resolving the slavery issue. Their immovable stances signaled the similar uncompromising positions adopted by the North and the South in the decades to follow.<ref>Chandra Miller, "'Title Page to a Great Tragic Volume': the Impact of the Missouri Crisis on Slavery, Race, and Republicanism in the Thought of John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams." ''Missouri Historical Review''  (2000) 94(4): 365-388. Issn: 0026-6582 </ref>

The "Old Man Eloquent," as he was called, won renewed respect throughout the North as an opponent of slavery. Although never an abolitionist, Adams fought the extension of slavery in the territories. The [[Missouri Compromise]] of 1820 provoked a series of intense debates on slavery between Adams and [[John C. Calhoun]] that changed them from admiring friends into bitter enemies. Both men were brilliant students of political philosophy, and both were committed to [[republicanism]].  Both recognized the necessity of reconciling republican government with the issues of slavery and race, Adams vilified the practice of slavery as inherently corrupt and un-republican and preached total abolition. Calhoun countered that the right to slavery not only should be protected from interference from the federal government but was fundamental to republican government. The national debate led both men to consider dissolution of the Union as a way of resolving the slavery issue. Their immovable stances signaled the similar uncompromising positions adopted by the North and the South in the decades to follow.<ref>Chandra Miller, "'Title Page to a Great Tragic Volume': the Impact of the Missouri Crisis on Slavery, Race, and Republicanism in the Thought of John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams." ''Missouri Historical Review''  (2000) 94(4): 365-388. Issn: 0026-6582 </ref>

Even more spectacular was his eight-year struggle against the Southern-inspired "gag resolutions," which sought to deny the presentation and the discussion of antislavery petitions in Congress. Repeatedly threatened by irate Southerners with disbarment from Congress, he courageously kept up the struggle and finally won the right of free petition in 1844. In a dramatic statement on the floor of the House, he protested, during a vote on the gag rule, "I hold the resolution to be a direct violation of the Constitution of the United States, the rules of this House, and the rights of my constituents." Adams was known for his sharp, insightful speeches, as well as his savage attacks of his opponents.  He was referred to as "the old man" just as often as "old man eloquent."  His battle against the gag rule finally bore fruit as it was eventually repealed.

Even more spectacular was his eight-year struggle against the Southern-inspired "gag resolutions," which sought to deny the presentation and the discussion of antislavery petitions in Congress. Repeatedly threatened by irate Southerners with disbarment from Congress, he courageously kept up the struggle and finally won the right of free petition in 1844. In a dramatic statement on the floor of the House, he protested, during a vote on the gag rule, "I hold the resolution to be a direct violation of the Constitution of the United States, the rules of this House, and the rights of my constituents." Adams was known for his sharp, insightful speeches, as well as his savage attacks of his opponents.  He was referred to as "the old man" just as often as "old man eloquent."  His battle against the gag rule finally bore fruit as it was eventually repealed.

====Missouri Compromise====

====Missouri Compromise====

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 provoked a series of intense debates between Adams and [[John C. Calhoun]] that would eventually transform them from admiring friends into bitter enemies. Both men recognized the necessity of reconciling republican government and the traditional values of the American Revolution with the issues of slavery and race. Adams vilified the practice of slavery and preached total abolition, while Calhoun countered that the right to slavery not only should be protected from interference from the federal government but was fundamental to republican government. The national debate led both men to consider dissolution of the Union as a way of resolving the slavery issue. Their immovable stances signaled the similar uncompromising positions adopted by the North and the South in the decades to follow.<ref> Chandra Miller, "'Title Page to a Great Tragic Volume': the Impact of the Missouri Crisis on Slavery, Race, and Republicanism in the Thought of John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams." ''Missouri Historical Review'' 2000 94(4): 365-388, not online</ref>

The Missouri Compromise of 1820 provoked a series of intense debates between Adams and [[John C. Calhoun]] that would eventually transform them from admiring friends into bitter enemies. Both men recognized the necessity of reconciling republican government and the traditional values of the American Revolution with the issues of slavery and race. Adams vilified the practice of slavery and preached total abolition, while Calhoun countered that the right to slavery not only should be protected from interference from the federal government but was fundamental to republican government. The national debate led both men to consider dissolution of the Union as a way of resolving the slavery issue. Their immovable stances signaled the similar uncompromising positions adopted by the North and the South in the decades to follow.<ref> Chandra Miller, "'Title Page to a Great Tragic Volume': the Impact of the Missouri Crisis on Slavery, Race, and Republicanism in the Thought of John C. Calhoun and John Quincy Adams." ''Missouri Historical Review'' 2000 94(4): 365-388, not online</ref>

====Texas====

====Texas====

In the debates over the annexation of Texas in the mid 1840s, he believed in a false conspiracy theory (popular among abolitionists) that annexation and the war with Mexico were plots hatched by southern slaveowners.

In the debates over the annexation of Texas in the mid 1840s, he believed in a false conspiracy theory (popular among abolitionists) that annexation and the war with Mexico were plots hatched by southern slaveowners.

===Death and legacy===

===Death and legacy===

He suffered a stroke on February 21, 1848 while on the House floor.  He died two days later in the evening of February 23, 1848 in the capital of Washington D.C.  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents John Quincy Adams]] by Zachary Kent, Children's Press</ref>

He suffered a stroke on February 21, 1848 while on the House floor.  He died two days later in the evening of February 23, 1848 in the capital of Washington D.C.  <ref> [[Encyclopedia of Presidents John Quincy Adams]] by Zachary Kent, Children's Press</ref>