Greatness of John Quincy Adams

                    John Quincy Adams was born July 11, 1767, in Braintree, Massachusetts Bay - now Quincy, Massachusetts - John Adams and Abigail Smith Adams.  He graduated from Harvard University and became a lawyer.  He married Louisa Catherine Johnson, and the couple became parents of four children:  Louisa, George, John, and Charles.

                    John Quincy served as an American diplomat, Senator, Congressional representative, and Secretary of State.  While he was a diplomat, he "played an important role in negotiating many international treaties, most notably the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812.  While he was Secretary of State, "he negotiated with the United Kingdom over America's northern border with Canada, negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and authored the Monroe Doctrine.  Historians agree he was one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history."  He "shaped America's foreign policy" using his own "commitment to America's republican values.

                    While John Quincy was President of the United States, "he sought to modernize the American economy and promoted education."  As part of his agenda as President, he "paid off much of the national debt" even though Congress was "controlled by his enemies."  He was defeated in his bid for a second term by Andrew Jackson in 1828 and joined his father as being a one-term President.

                    "During Adams' lifetime, technological innovations and new means of communication spread messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics.  Goods, money and people traveled more rapidly and efficiently than ever before."

                    After John Quincy left the Oval Office, the people of Massachusetts elected him to be a U.S. Representative - the only President to ever do so - and he served in that office for the last 17 years of his life.  He was much more successful in Congress than he was as President, and he became a major opponent of slavery.  "He predicted that if a civil war were to break out, the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers.  Adams also predicted the Union's dissolution over the slavery issue, but said that if the South became independent there would be a series of bloody slave revolts."

                    The quotes of John Quincy Adams show his greatness and his adherence to republican principles.  A few of his quote are as follow.

                    "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

                    "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."

                    "Duty is ours; results are God's."

                    "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

                    "America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy."

                    "Posterity:  you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom.  I hope you will make good use of it."

                    "Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order."

                    "All men profess honesty as long as they can.  To believe all men honest would be folly.  To believe none so is something worse."