Changes

|preceded=William Calhoun

|preceded=William Calhoun

|former=y

|former=y

|succeeded=Horace Mann

|succeeded=[[Horace Mann]]

}}

}}

{{Officeholder/representative

{{Officeholder/representative

Adams presented a vision of national greatness resting on economic growth and a strong federal government, but his presidency was not a success as he lacked political adroitness, popularity or a network of supporters, and ran afoul of politicians eager to undercut him.  Adams is best known as a diplomat who shaped American's foreign policy in line with his deeply conservative and ardently nationalist commitment to [[Republicanism|America's republican values]].  More recently he has been portrayed as the exemplar and moral leader in an era of modernization when new technologies and networks of infrastructure and communication brought to the people messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics, as well as moving goods, money and people ever more rapidly and efficiently.<ref>See Howe (2007).</ref>

Adams presented a vision of national greatness resting on economic growth and a strong federal government, but his presidency was not a success as he lacked political adroitness, popularity or a network of supporters, and ran afoul of politicians eager to undercut him.  Adams is best known as a diplomat who shaped American's foreign policy in line with his deeply conservative and ardently nationalist commitment to [[Republicanism|America's republican values]].  More recently he has been portrayed as the exemplar and moral leader in an era of modernization when new technologies and networks of infrastructure and communication brought to the people messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics, as well as moving goods, money and people ever more rapidly and efficiently.<ref>See Howe (2007).</ref>

 

==Early life==

==Early life==

Adams was born at Braintree, now Quincy, [[Massachusetts]], on July 11, 1767. He was the son of [[John Adams]], the second president of the United States, and [[Abigail Adams|Abigail Quincy Smith Adams]]. Abigail Adams proved to be a stern, disapproving mother while John Adams was the warmer, more loving parent. [[Alcoholism]] ruined Abigail's brothers (and later her younger son). To ensure her first-born son avoided a similar fate, she delivered a steady barrage of admonitions and criticisms to him throughout his life.<ref>When her health failed and she died in 1818, Secretary of State Adams said he was too busy to return to her bedside or attend the funeral.</ref>  His father could be harsh at times, admonishing the son: "You come into life with advantages which will disgrace you if your success is mediocre. If you do not rise to the head not only of your profession, but of your country, it will be owing to your own Laziness, Slovenliness and Obstinacy."<ref>Quoted in Paul C. Nagel, ''John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life'' (1997) p. 76.</ref>  

Adams was born at Braintree, now Quincy, [[Massachusetts]], on July 11, 1767. He was the son of [[John Adams]], the second president of the United States, and [[Abigail Adams|Abigail Quincy Smith Adams]]. Abigail Adams proved to be a stern, disapproving mother while John Adams was the warmer, more loving parent. [[Alcoholism]] ruined Abigail's brothers (and later her younger son). To ensure her first-born son avoided a similar fate, she delivered a steady barrage of admonitions and criticisms to him throughout his life.<ref>When her health failed and she died in 1818, Secretary of State Adams said he was too busy to return to her bedside or attend the funeral.</ref>  His father could be harsh at times, admonishing the son: "You come into life with advantages which will disgrace you if your success is mediocre. If you do not rise to the head not only of your profession, but of your country, it will be owing to your own Laziness, Slovenliness and Obstinacy."<ref>Quoted in Paul C. Nagel, ''John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life'' (1997) p. 76.</ref>