Nicolette+K.+-+JQA+-+SP10

John Quincy Adams Born: July 11, 1767 Died: February 23, 1848 Party: Democratic-Republican Term(s): March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1829 Vice President: John C. Calhoun John Quincy Adams wanted to do good for his country, but he was mostly unsuccessful during his two terms as president. Though he was known as “the ablest of all our diplomatic corps” he was also known for his cold demeanor, which didn’t do so well in the White House. He made many good internal improvements, but he had a bad relationship with congress and passed the Tariff of Abominations and because of these reasons, he deserves a C.

During the campaign of 1824, none of the four presidential candidates got the majority of the electoral vote. These four were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, William H. Crawford, and Henry Clay. The election was thrown into the House of Representatives. Henry Clay dropped out and supported Adams for president and when Adams became president, Henry Clay was promptly appointed for Secretary of State, which led to the charge of the “corrupt bargain”. Andrew Jackson’s supporters were angry since Jackson had received popular vote and they believed a bribe went on between Adams and Clay. Though they both denied doing any bargain, Adams started his presidency off on the wrong foot. This also made him not have the best of relations with congress.

However, John Quincy Adams did try to bring some good to the United States. He was the first president to endorse internal improvements. Adams wanted a construction of roads and canals, a national university, and an astronomical observatory. These ideas were all great, but it was a little too ambitious for congress. Adams only succeeded in the extension of the Cumberland Road into Ohio and the making of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

John Quincy Adams wanted to protect the domestic industry. One of the ways to do this was to put a high tariff on imported goods so more would buy from America. Though it was helpful to New England, it was hated by the South and Jackson supporters. The Tariff of 1828, or the Tariff of Abominations, as it became known, was made law despite its flaws. Even though the steep rates were rolled back, it became known as “unconstitutional, oppressive, and unjust”.

In conclusion, President Adams was an average president. People were suspicious of him because of the “corrupt bargain” and were against the Tariff of Abominations. However, John Quincy Adams worked for internal improvements in America. Though some of his ideas were too ambitious for the congress, he brought the construction of roads and canals to the United States. Because he did both good and bad things, he deserves the grade of C.

Degregorio, William A.. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents)//. 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.