Happy Birthday John Quncy/Adams National Historic Park
John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, 247 years ago today. He was the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. Before that he served as a diplomat, a Senator and as Secretary of State, and after his presidency he served as a member of the House of Representatives. During the course of his life he was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, Anti-Masonic and Whig parties.
Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a young boy his father took him to Europe with him. At the age of 25 Adams was appointed at Minister (Ambassador) to the Netherlands. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating key treaties, including the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. He served as Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe and while in that position he negotiated with Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada. He also negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and drafted President James Monroe's famous pronouncement on European intervention in the Western Hemisphere known as the Monroe Doctrine. Many consider him to be one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.
He became President in the controversial election of 1824 in which he finished second to Andrew Jackson in both the popular and electoral vote, but was awarded the presidency by the House of Representatives because no candidate obtained a majority of electoral votes. As President, Adams sought to modernize the American economy and promote education. On his watch much of the national debt was paid off. But he did not enjoy support in Congress due in part to his lack of patronage networks. A high tariff known as the "Tariff of Abominations" also lost him support in the south. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson.
Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, serving for the last 17 years of his life. In Congress Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power. 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. He had remarkable foresight. He was 80 years old when he died on February 23, 1846, two days after collapsing while speaking in the House.
This year John Quincy Adams was the subject of a new biography by Fred Kaplan entitled John Quincy Adams: American Visionary. (I haven't read it yet, but the reviews of it are very good.)
John Quincy Adams and his father President John Adams are both remembered at the Adams National Historical Park, formerly Adams National Historic Site, in Quincy, Massachusetts. Located within the park are the homes of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and of the writers and historians Henry Adams and Brooks Adams.
This national historical park's eleven buildings contain a history of five generations of the Adams family (from 1720 to 1927). The park's main historic features include the John Adams Birthplace, the John Quincy Adams Birthplace, and the Stone Library (built in 1870 to house the books of John Quincy Adams) which is considered to be the first presidential library. The Stone Library contains more than 14,000 historic volumes in 12 languages. There is an off-site visitor center nearby. Regularly scheduled tours of the houses are offered in season (from April 19 to November 10), by guided tour only, using a tourist trolley provided by the Park Service between sites. Access to United First Parish Church is provided by the congregation for which they ask a small donation. The church is across the street from the visitor center.
Following is more information about the Adams National Historic Park:
Website: http://www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm
Location: 135 Adams Street, Quincy, Massachusetts
Hours of Operation: The park grounds are open year round. The historic homes are open for tours April 19 through November 10. During this time the park is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Access to the historic homes is by conducted tour only. Tours last approximately two hours and depart regularly from the Visitor Center located at 1250 Hancock Street. Please be aware that the last tour leaves at 3:15 pm daily. We do not accept reservations for tours, tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adams-National-Historical-Park/189733871059446
Twitter: @DiscoverQuincy
Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a young boy his father took him to Europe with him. At the age of 25 Adams was appointed at Minister (Ambassador) to the Netherlands. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating key treaties, including the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. He served as Secretary of State in the administration of James Monroe and while in that position he negotiated with Britain over the United States' northern border with Canada. He also negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and drafted President James Monroe's famous pronouncement on European intervention in the Western Hemisphere known as the Monroe Doctrine. Many consider him to be one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.
He became President in the controversial election of 1824 in which he finished second to Andrew Jackson in both the popular and electoral vote, but was awarded the presidency by the House of Representatives because no candidate obtained a majority of electoral votes. As President, Adams sought to modernize the American economy and promote education. On his watch much of the national debt was paid off. But he did not enjoy support in Congress due in part to his lack of patronage networks. A high tariff known as the "Tariff of Abominations" also lost him support in the south. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson.
Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, serving for the last 17 years of his life. In Congress Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power. 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. He had remarkable foresight. He was 80 years old when he died on February 23, 1846, two days after collapsing while speaking in the House.
This year John Quincy Adams was the subject of a new biography by Fred Kaplan entitled John Quincy Adams: American Visionary. (I haven't read it yet, but the reviews of it are very good.)
John Quincy Adams and his father President John Adams are both remembered at the Adams National Historical Park, formerly Adams National Historic Site, in Quincy, Massachusetts. Located within the park are the homes of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and of the writers and historians Henry Adams and Brooks Adams.
This national historical park's eleven buildings contain a history of five generations of the Adams family (from 1720 to 1927). The park's main historic features include the John Adams Birthplace, the John Quincy Adams Birthplace, and the Stone Library (built in 1870 to house the books of John Quincy Adams) which is considered to be the first presidential library. The Stone Library contains more than 14,000 historic volumes in 12 languages. There is an off-site visitor center nearby. Regularly scheduled tours of the houses are offered in season (from April 19 to November 10), by guided tour only, using a tourist trolley provided by the Park Service between sites. Access to United First Parish Church is provided by the congregation for which they ask a small donation. The church is across the street from the visitor center.
Following is more information about the Adams National Historic Park:
Website: http://www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm
Location: 135 Adams Street, Quincy, Massachusetts
Hours of Operation: The park grounds are open year round. The historic homes are open for tours April 19 through November 10. During this time the park is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Access to the historic homes is by conducted tour only. Tours last approximately two hours and depart regularly from the Visitor Center located at 1250 Hancock Street. Please be aware that the last tour leaves at 3:15 pm daily. We do not accept reservations for tours, tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adams-National-Historical-Park/189733871059446
Twitter: @DiscoverQuincy