The Life and Times of Congressman John Quincy Adams

By Leonard L. Richards

Book Overview

Richards' study presents not only a vivid portrait of John Quincy Adams but also provides an insightful exploration of American politics in the 1830s and 40s. Examining one of the few presidents who sustained a political career after his term in the White House, Richards depicts how two years after losing the presidential election to Andrew Jackson, Adams ran for the House of Representatives and served there until his death seventeen years later.
During his outstanding congressional career, Adams became a folk hero in much of the North--hailed by some as "Old Man Eloquent" and "the conscience of New England" by others--while much of the South feared him, regarding him as a traitor and the "archest enemy of slavery that ever existed." Richards explores in detail Adams' battles with such prominent figures as Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun, and Daniel Webster on the issues of slavery, the Indians and their land, the annexation of Texas, and the potential war against Mexico. Highlighting his importance in the anti-slavery movement, Richards reassesses Adams' role as a political analyst and as a vital force in the turbulent politics of the day.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019505427X
• ISBN13: 9780195054279
• Release Date: April 1988
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

House Bill 584, Verplank Bill, and Bank Wars

Tariffs were a way to force revenue. A very unpopular tariff put heavy dues on the South and was referred to as the tariff of abomination. House Bill 584 was a compromise to the tariff of abomination. House Bill 584 revised the tariff laws of the United States. The bill passed and claimed too cut total revenues by $5 million and establish a reserve for defense and internal improvements. However, crucial levies on iron, cotton goods, and fine woolens would remain high. Overall duties increased by $1 million and nullifiers were not pleased. Lawmakers thought to appease the South by eliminating minimum levies and remission of duties on coarse wool and coarse woolens, so called Negro clothes, which slave masters bought for their slaves. The tariff money had to be put somewhere and that somewhere was a bank. Adams distrusted all bankers calling them swindlers and thieves. Adams believed every dollar beyond the gold or silver backing it, cheated someone. Banks lend more notes than they could cover (3 to 5 times the vault value). Southern legislators argued for strict constructionalism limiting the expansion of government spending and borrowing. Expansionist argued that money and banking made possible manufacturing growth. Protective tariffs were necessary and the constitution provided provision for roads and canals to be built using the money. The Fed's job was to provide a favorable climate for economic growth; the Fed design was too protect against foreign competition; the Fed was charged too create a national market, and the Fed must ensured cohesion of commerce through internal improvements: roads, canals, and education. A second source of income came through the sale of public lands and those funds went into the federal treasury to fund the internal improvements. Almost contradictory in nature to his beliefs, Adams supported a strong national bank to hold in check the smaller state banks. The Verplank Bill passed and Jackson used the law too force South Carolina to pay tariffs. The south did not accept the bill readily. So another law was passed called the Compromise Tariff Act of 1833 that dropped rates down and spread them stepped over a nine-year interval. In 1837, England faced a financial crisis triggered a run on banks in the U.S. Patrons began redeeming notes in gold and prices began to rise. Jackson, the successor to Van Buren championed the case of hard money. Jackson started to criticize the state banking policies and encourage business be done in gold and silver. These economic pressure lead to support of the Independent Treasury Act of 1840. The Bank war rose after the second national bank came due too have its charter renewed. Jackson was against the renewing of the Charter that would expire in 1836. Adams wanted the national bank believing it would keep in line wildcat banks and ride the herd on issuing too many notes. In 1819, Biddle takes over the bank and Adams thinks highly of Biddle. The New York