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'''John Quincy Adams''' was the 6th [[President of the United States of America]].  He served one term as President (1825–1829) and then returned to Congress where he spent the remainder of his political career fighting slavery as a moral evil.  He was the son of President [[John Adams]] and [[Abigail Adams]]. A precocious teenager who aided his father in diplomatic missions, at 26 he was appointed minister<ref>The title "ambassador" came into use much later.</ref> to the Netherlands by President [[George Washington]], then promoted to the Berlin Legation.  In 1802 Adams was elected to the US Senate and in 1808 he became the first U.S. Minister of Russia. Adams'  served as one of the great secretaries of state under President [[James Monroe]], arranging with Britain for the joint occupation of the Oregon Country, obtaining from Spain the cessation of the Floridas, and helping to formulate the [[Monroe Doctrine]].  He returned to Congress and became an outspoken opponent of slavery.  Deeply troubled by slavery Adams predicted the dissolution of the Union on the issue (true) and a series of bloody slave insurrections (false).

'''John Quincy Adams''' (1767-1848) was the 6th [[President of the United States of America]] and an American Founding Father.  He served one term as President (1825–1829) and then returned to [[Congress]] where he spent the remainder of his political career fighting [[slavery]] as a moral evil.  He was the son of President [[John Adams]] and [[Abigail Adams]]. A precocious teenager who aided his father in diplomatic missions, at 26 he was appointed minister<ref>The title "ambassador" came into use much later.</ref> to [[the Netherlands]] by President [[George Washington]], then promoted to the Berlin Legation.  In 1802 Adams was elected to the US [[Senate]] and in 1808 he became the first U.S. Minister of [[Russia]]. Adams served as one of the great secretaries of state under President [[James Monroe]], arranging with [[Britain]] for the joint occupation of the [[Oregon]] Country, obtaining from [[Spain]] the cessation of the [[Florida]]s, and helping to formulate the Monroe Doctrine.  He returned to Congress and became an outspoken opponent of slavery.  Deeply troubled by slavery, Adams correctly predicted the dissolution of the Union on the issue, but was incorrect in predicting a series of bloody slave insurrections.

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>

   

   

===Education===

===Education===

Much of his early life was spent with his father on diplomatic missions, and he obtained his formal schooling piecemeal in France, Amsterdam, Leiden, and The Hague. Highly precocious, at the age of 14 Adams became secretary to Francis Dana, the American minister to Russia, and in 1783 acted as secretary to his father during the peace negotiations with Britain. When his father was appointed minister to the Court of St James (Britain) in 1785, Adams returned to Massachusetts and entered Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1787. Thereafter he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1790, and began practicing in Boston, which bored him.  He became professor of rhetoric at Harvard.  In 1797 Adams married Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter of a London-based American tobacco merchant from Maryland.  

Much of his early life was spent with his father on diplomatic missions, and he obtained his formal schooling piecemeal in [[France]], [[Amsterdam]], [[Leiden]], and [[The Hague]]. Highly precocious, at the age of 14 Adams became secretary to Francis Dana, the American minister to Russia, and in 1783 acted as secretary to his father during the peace negotiations with Britain. When his father was appointed minister to the [[Court of St James]] (Britain) in 1785, Adams returned to Massachusetts and entered [[Harvard College]], where he was graduated in 1787. Thereafter he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1790, and began practicing in [[Boston]], which bored him.  He became professor of rhetoric at Harvard.  In 1797 Adams married Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter of a London-based American [[tobacco]] merchant from [[Maryland]].  

===Young diplomat===

===Young diplomat===

He continued his work as diplomat to Holland, until he was chosen as the minister to Portugal.  But before he could leave, his father, John Adams, became President of the United States and sent his son to go as minister to Prussia, instead of Portugal.  He kept the post successfully for the next four years.  His father though was a very unpopular President and lost the [[United States presidential election of 1800|1800 presidential election]] to [[Thomas Jefferson]].  Because of this Adams returned home to his family with his wife and son, George.   

He continued his work as diplomat to Holland, until he was chosen as the minister to Portugal.  But before he could leave, his father, John Adams, became President of the United States and sent his son to go as minister to Prussia, instead of Portugal.  He kept the post successfully for the next four years.  His father though was a very unpopular President and lost the [[United States presidential election of 1800|1800 presidential election]] to [[Thomas Jefferson]].  Because of this Adams returned home to his family with his wife and son, George.   

===U.S. Politics===

===U.S. Politics===

Returning to the United States, Adams was defeated in 1802 for the U.S. House of Representatives, but in 1803 was elected to the U.S. Senate by the Massachusetts legislature, then controlled by the [[Federalist Party]].  Like other Federalists he attacked the Louisiana Purchase as "accomplished by a flagrant violation of the Constitution." Adams soon showed that spirit of political independence which was to characterize his entire career. Crossing party lines, he supported the impeachment of Federalist judges, and, most important, Jefferson's [[Embargo of 1807]], which was strenuously opposed by his constituents. The embargo vote alienated him completely from the Federalists, who denounced him publicly and secured his defeat in the senatorial election in June 1808.  Adams then joined the  [[Democratic-Republican Party]] and was now aligned with Jefferson and Madison.

Returning to the United States, Adams was defeated in 1802 for the U.S. House of Representatives, but in 1803 was elected to the U.S. Senate by the Massachusetts legislature, then controlled by the [[Federalist Party]].  Like other Federalists he attacked the Louisiana Purchase as "accomplished by a flagrant violation of the Constitution." Adams soon showed that spirit of political independence which was to characterize his entire career. Crossing party lines, he supported the impeachment of Federalist judges, and, most important, Jefferson's [[Embargo of 1807]], which was strenuously opposed by his constituents. The embargo vote alienated him completely from the Federalists, who denounced him publicly and secured his defeat in the senatorial election in June 1808.  Adams then joined the  [[Democratic-Republican Party]] and was now aligned with Jefferson and Madison.