A copy of a lost daguerreotype of Adams taken by Philip Haas in 1843
Like most contemporaries, John Quincy Adams's views on slavery evolved over time. He never joined the movement called "abolitionist" by historians—the one led by William Lloyd Garrison—because it demanded the immediate abolition of slavery and insisted it was a sin to enslave people. Further, abolitionism meant disunion and Adams was a staunch champion of American nationalism and union.[1]
He often dealt with slavery-related issues during his seventeen-year congressional career, which began after his presidency. In the House, Adams became a champion of free speech, demanding that petitions against slavery be heard despite a "gag rule" that said they could not be heard.[2] Adams repeatedly spoke out against the "Slave Power", that is the organized political power of the slave owners who dominated all the southern states and their representation in Congress.[3] He vehemently attacked the annexation of Texas (1845) and the Mexican War (1846–1848) as part of a "conspiracy" to extend slavery.[4] During the censure debate, Adams said that he took delight in the fact that southerners would forever remember him as "the acutest, the astutest, the archest enemy of southern slavery that ever existed".[5]
Biographers Nagle and Parsons argue that he was not a true abolitionist, although he quickly became the primary enemy of slavery in Congress.[6][7] Though he, like most anti-slavery contemporaries such as Henry Clay, held the preservation of the union as the primary goal, he increasingly became more forceful for the anti-slavery cause.[6] Remini notes that Adams feared that the end of slavery could only come through civil war or the consent of the slave South, and not quickly and painlessly as the abolitionists wanted.[8]
^David F. Ericson, "John Quincy Adams: Apostle of Union." in David Waldstreicher, ed., A Companion to John Adams and John Quincy Adams (2013), pp 367–382, p 371.
^David C. Frederick, "John Quincy Adams, Slavery, and the Disappearance of the Right of Petition," Law and History Review, Spring 1991, Vol. 9 Issue 1, pp 113–155
^Leonard L. Richards, The slave power: the free North and southern domination, 1780–1860 (2000) p. 44
^Leonard L. Richards, The life and times of Congressman John Quincy Adams (1986) ch 6
^Nagel, Paul C. John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life (Harvard UP, 1999). p 348
^ abNagel, Paul. "John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life". p 355. 1999, Harvard University Press
^; Parsons, Adams, (1999) p 224
^Remini, Adams (2002) p 142
and 20 Related for: John Quincy Adams and abolitionism information
demanded the immediate abolition of slavery and insisted it was a sin to enslave people. Further, abolitionism meant disunion andAdams was a staunch champion...
Abigail Adams named her son, the future president JohnQuincyAdams, after him. Two days after his great-grandson's birth, Quincy died. The city of Quincy, Massachusetts...
JohnQuincyAdams (/ˈkwɪnzi/ ; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman, politician, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist who served as the...
century and the Josiah Quincy Mansion was demolished in 1969. The names of President JohnQuincyAdams, several American towns, USS Quincy, Quincy House...
The inauguration of JohnQuincyAdams as the sixth president of the United States took place on Friday, March 4, 1825, in the House Chamber of the U.S...
captives. United States v. The Amistad Abolitionism in the United States Amistad film JohnQuincyAdamsandabolitionism Dudley T. Cornish, Mutiny on the Amistad:...
Emancipation Act (1862), which ended slavery in Washington, D.C. JohnQuincyAdamsandabolitionism Lists of United States public officials who owned slaves Slavery...
Speaker of the House — and low-ranked presidential candidate in that same election — Henry Clay gave his support to JohnQuincyAdams, the candidate with...
Adams (née Johnson; February 12, 1775 – May 15, 1852) was the first lady of the United States from 1825 to 1829 during the presidency of JohnQuincy Adams...
slavery History of slavery in the United States James Redpath JohnQuincyAdamsandabolitionism List of opponents of slavery Slavery among Native Americans...
early American naval history Blockade of Africa Creole case JohnQuincyAdamsandabolitionism List of historical schooners List of ships captured in the...
JohnQuincyAdams, Henry Clay, James A. Bayard, Sr., Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin. All were senior political leaders except Russell; Adams was...
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery and liberate slaves around the world. The first country to fully outlaw slavery...
Speech George Washington and slavery Thomas Jefferson and slavery JohnQuincyAdamsandabolitionism Timeline of the civil rights movement Striner, Richard...
related to JohnQuincyAdams, the sixth president of the United States. Adams, Sean Patrick (October 2008). "The Tao of JohnQuincyAdams: Or, new institutionalism...
American politician JohnQuincyAdams served as President of the United States (1825–1829) and United States Secretary of State (1817–1825). Prior to being...
United States federal judges appointed by President JohnQuincyAdams during his presidency. In total Adams appointed 12 Article III federal judges, including...
Global Information