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John Quincy Adams Life time: July 11, 1767-February 23, 1848 Political Party: He did not specify a political party while running for office. Term: 1824-1828 Vice President: John C. Calhoun 1824-1828

John Quincy Adams was not an extremity. He was neither a good president nor a bad one. He successfully made multiple national improvements but he also had his fair share of flaws. The Tariff of Abomination was one of these faults. John Quincy Adams deserves the grade of a C because he was a very average president not making any ground breaking improvements on America as well as not severely harming it. In John Q. Adams' inaugural address he acknowledged the fact that America had successfully avoided internal conflict for ten years and urged them to continue this, although he pushed the concept of national unity to the next level by encouraging the complete unity of the country. "There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by individuals throughout the nation who have heretofore followed the standards of political party." Adams had stated. Adams thought that the Americans were too focused on their political parties which separated us as a country. He advised the country to set aside their political parties for the greater good of the whole there for making the ultimate step towards national unity.  John Quincy Adams’ relationship with congress was both bad and good depending on the time. Adams at first suggested an ambitious national improvement plan that would build many roads and canals. This subjected him to criticism from Congress because the idea was seen as very far-fetched and unlikely to happen. Although on the other hand there were a number of national improvement plans that were passed such as the improvement of Cumberland road and the building of both the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. Although possibly a positive factor was that the majority and minority parties had little effect seeing as Adams did not belong to a political party. The most positive accomplishments of John Q. Adams’ presidency were no doubt the national improvements made. Roads and canals made trade and travel significantly easier. Like previously stated John Quincy Adams improved the Cumberland road during his presidency and the building of both the Chesapeake and Ohio canal was also due to his influence. As well he also encouraged the idea of a national university and federal funding for the arts and sciences. The Tariff of Abomination was the worst thing that John Quincy Adams did during his presidency. It was a high protective tariff. The tariff was dubbed unconstitutional and this established that states could nullify federal laws.  The thing that was probably the most significant act of his presidency was the Abomination tariff. The Abomination tariff was a protective tariff that was meant to secure American industries from the lower British goods, although this tariff hurt the southern economy. The tariff was later lowered and then replied when found unconstitutional. This ordeal established that states could nullify national laws.

All in All John Quincy Adams helped America just about as much as he hurt it. Like the improvement of Cumberland road and the building of both the Chesapeake and Ohio canal among other improvements was a definite step forward. Although he took a step back when he hurt the southern economy with the very high Tariff of 1828. These things together earn him the grade of a C for the fact that America was not better or worse off without him. "6.John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)." __The White House__. U.S.A government. 4 Mar. 2010 . DeGregorio, William A. __The Complete Book of U.S Presidents__. 7th ed. John Quincy Adams. New Jersey: Barricade Books Inc., 2009.