John Quincy Adams and Abolitionism John Quincy Adams and abolitionism refers to the role of the sixth President of the United States (1825–1829) in opposing slavery. Like most contemporaries, John Quincy Adams views on slavery evolved over time. Since most of his career before his presidency focused on foreign affairs, such as the Treaty of Ghent, the Florida Treaty and the Monroe Doctrine, he didnt directly address the issue before that time. Though he signed into law the Tariff of 1828, which southern slave holders strongly protested because of its possible erosion of their slave-holding rights, he mainly dealt with the issue 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. 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. He vehemently attacked the annexation of Texas (1845) and the Mexican War (1846–48) as part of a conspiracy to extend slavery.
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 16:37:27 +0000
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