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|name=John Quincy Adams

|name=John Quincy Adams

|image=JohnQuincyAdams1819.jpeg

|image=JohnQuincyAdams1819.jpeg

|party=Whig<br/>Federalist (before 1808)<br/>Democratic-Republican (1808–1830)<br/>National Republican (1830–1834)<br/>Anti-Masonic (1834-1838)

|party=Federalist (before 1808)<br/>[[Republicans (Jeffersonian)|Republican]] (1808–30)<br/>National Republican (1830–1834)<br/>Anti-Masonic (1834-1838)

|spouse=Louisa Catherine Johnson

|spouse=Louisa Catherine Johnson

|religion= Unitarianism

|religion=Unitarianism

|offices=

|offices=

{{Officeholder/president

{{Officeholder/president

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'''John Quincy Adams''' (b. July 11, 1767, d. February 23, 1848) was the 6th [[President of the United States of America]] and the son of American Founding Father [[John Adams]]. 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.

'''John Quincy Adams''' (b. July 11, 1767, d. February 23, 1848) was the sixth [[president of the United States of America]] and the son of American Founding Father [[John Adams]]. 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>

   

   

==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>  

===Education===

===Education===

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 [[Jeffersonian Republicans]] and was now aligned with Jefferson and Madison.

==Diplomat==

==Diplomat==

In 1809 the new President, [[James Madison]] appointed Adams to be the minister to Russia.  He remained there, even when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] invaded Russia unsuccessfully.  His career as a diplomat was immensely successful.  Adams was one of five diplomats who negotiated the Treaty of Ghent with Britain; it ended the [[War of 1812]].   

In 1809 the new President, [[James Madison]] appointed Adams to be the minister to Russia.  He remained there, even when [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] invaded Russia unsuccessfully.  His career as a diplomat was immensely successful.  Adams was one of five diplomats who negotiated the Treaty of Ghent with Britain; it ended the [[War of 1812]].