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Born: July 11, 1767 Died: February 23, 1848 Political Party: Democratic-Republican or National Republican Term of Service: (1825-1829) Vice President: John C. Calhoun
 * John Quincy Adams**

Despite being one of the most impressive Secretaries of State, John Quincy Adams was a very poor President. Adams deserves a D for his presidential administration. Being disliked by the people, advocating nationalistic policies, and the Tariff of Abominations would ultimately lead to his demise.

John Quincy Adams favored strong national government, and his main goals were internal improvements. He attempted to create a vast network of roads and canals, universities, and an astronomical observatory, but Congress did not agree with these ambitious plans. Feelings of nationalism from the “Era of Good Feelings” were dying down, and many were reverting back to sectionalism. Adams was pushing the wrong policies at the wrong time. His main goal was not achieved due to the fact that Congress shot most of his internal improvement ideas down. Extending the Cumberland Road into Ohio and building the C & O Canal were two small, personal victories for John Quincy.

Being elected President under a “corrupt bargain” was not a good start for Adams. Since neither Jackson nor Adams had the majority of electoral college votes, the House of Representatives was to elect the President under the ruling of the 12th amendment. Henry Clay, the Speaker of the House, was out of the running for President and helped Adams win. Clay would then be chosen for Secretary of State under Adams. The majority party of both houses of Congress were Jacksonian democratic-republicans, and were very angry over the political deal. Congress would not pass the majority of his legislation.

The negatives of John Quincy Adam’s administration seem to heavily outweigh the positives. The small internal improvements were the only value of his four years in office. These improvements somewhat unified the nation by means of transportation. One of the most negative outcomes was the Tariff of Abominations. Adams suggested a high tariff that supported manufactured goods in New England and hurt the economy in the south. The Jackson-favoring members in congress tried to amend the Bill so there would be high taxes on the imported goods needed for manufacturing. This would make the tariff unbearable in both the north and south, but the north passed it despite the flagrant flaws. This Tariff of Abominations proved to ruin the economy, and eventually led to South Carolina threatening to secede from the Union. They thought that state government should be able to nullify these oppressive laws.

The Tariff of Abominations would influence Andrew Jackson who was left to deal with its outcomes. In a round about way, the tariff influenced Jackson to flex his Executive muscles and demolish the “Nullies” in South Carolina. He threatened to privately assault South Carolina and hang the rebels, which quieted them down. Soon the tariff was reduced, and the rates were back to normal.

America was in a worse state at the end of the Adams administration compared to the beginning. Due to his federalist-like policies and his personality, Adams could not connect to the common people of America on a personal level. He was seen as austere and distant, and would easily be defeated by the war hero Andrew Jackson in the following election. His national policy, the economy, and his personality contribute to the abysmal grade of D.

Bibliography:

“American President: John Quincy Adams.” Miller Center of Public Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Oct 2010 .

Bailey, Thomas A., Lizabeth Cohen, and David M. Kennedy. The American Pageant: A History of the Republic. 13 ed. Boston: Mcdougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin, 2005. Print.

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