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Term: 1825-1829 Political Party: Democrat-Republican Vice President: John Calhoun
 * John Quincy Adams** (July 11, 1767-Feburary 23, 1848)

John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, was a misfit in the White House. Although he was one of the most successful secretaries of state, he was not a successful president. He hardly accomplished anything and was not popular among the people. He was very independent, aloof and stubborn. Adam’s presidency shall be awarded a D because he did not accomplish anything except for internal improvements, which were despised by the people, and unwisely passed the Tariff of Abominations.

Adams was elected president because of the “Corrupt Bargain”. In the election of 1824, there were four possible candidates. They were John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, William Crawford, and Andrew Jackson. Although Jackson was the most popular, nobody had the majority of the electoral votes. Therefore, as stated in the twelfth amendment, the vote went to the House of Representatives. Clay was immediately eliminated, but being Speaker of the House, he had an enormous amount of influence to “throw” the election to whomever he wanted to. Clay was not an advocate of Jackson, so he and Adams, never proven though, made a deal. If Clay got Adams in as president, in turn, Adams would give Clay the position of Secretary of State. At the time, this position was the best reward ever. This is what turned out and Adams became president.

Adams had a few goals in mind, upon entering his term in office. Adams was a nationalist, while a majority of the nation supported sectionalism. He was an advocate of the American system, and therefore wanted internal improvements throughout the nation. This goal was to some extent accomplished in the later years with the creation of the National Road, or Cumberland Road in 1852. Also, he wanted to renew George Washington’s proposal for a national university, but this goal was never accomplished. His last goal was for an astronomical observatory. This was highly abhorrent among the people because the observatory seemed like a waste of public funds. As a result, an astronomical observatory was never created. Due to being elected from the “Corrupt Bargain” Adams was aware that he would face hostility in Congress, and this was somewhat the case. Taking a look at the figures, the House of Representatives was in favor of the Jacksonian Democrats 113 to 100 representatives. In the Senate it was 28 to 20, in favor of the Jacksonian Democrats, as well in the 20th Congress. As you can see, Adams had little political backing. Nothing productive occurred in Congress, except for the passing of the Tariff of Abominations and some internal improvements.

The most positive action of Adams presidency was the internal improvements done around the nation. Adams wanted to build a national university, and astronomical observatory, as well as creating canals and roads. He did not get to create a university or observatory but he did manage to help the beginning of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. Also, the Cumberland Road was extended but was later fully complete in 1852, which ran from western Maryland to Illinois. Also, he helped to establish the Erie Canal, which connected the Great Lakes and Hudson River. The Eric Canal decreased passenger travel time and shipping prices.These improvements helped our society when people had to transport goods to different parts of the nation. It was quite easy to do so after all the improvements.

The worst decision that Adams made was passing the Tariff of Abominations, but Andrew Jackson felt the pain of this devastating move. This tariff was intended to protect the infant industries and this highly upset the southerners. They believed that this tariff helped the North because of its manufacturing and also the West because they were experiencing a boom in rising property values. South Carolina, the state that felt the angriest, called for a state convention in which they nullified the tariff. They threatened to secede from the Union if Washington D.C. attempted to collect the money by force. Later the Tariff of 1833 was compromised, which reduced the tariff by ten percent over eight years.

The most influential decision President Adams made was the passing of the Tariff of Abominations, which was passed on to Andrew Jackson. This was created in 1828, the last year of Adams term. Andrew Jackson became president and he was left to deal with this tariff. The southerners were extremely angry with this, and so they nullified the tariff. Jackson had no other choice other than to collect the taxes by force, so he began to prepare an army, as did the southerners. As already mentioned, Henry Clay proposed the Tariff of 1833. This tariff would lower the tax ten percent over eight years. This was the only influence Adams had on the future president, Andrew Jackson.

Adams and his administration got nothing productive done. His presidency didn’t leave the country in a better condition than before entering office. They passed the Tariff of Abominations; probably the most memorable, but this upset mostly the southerners because it helped the North and West, but not the South. He did manage to make some internal improvements, but only a few like the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. All in all, Adams was a misfit in the White House and therefore his presidency receives a D grading.

Bibliography:

Biography of John Quincy Adams." __Welcome to the White House__. 7 Oct. 2009 .

"Historical Party Strength in U.S. House of Representatives." __U.S. Congress__. 7 Oct. 2009 .

"Historical Party Strength in U.S. Senate." __U.S. Congress__. 7 Oct. 2009 .

"John Quincy Adams." __historic clothing: expanded site__. 8 Oct. 2009 .