The life of John Quincy Adams and events in American history before the Civil War by Maddy Neal
By naddymeal
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English settle Jamestown
The English established the first permanent settlement in America on the mainland at Jamestown, Virginia (Oakes et al. 34). Funded by the Virginia Company, Jamestown nearly failed due to disease, starvation, and internal conflict among the colonists (34). -
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by a group of London merchants called the Massachusetts Bay Company (Oakes et al. 76). The population consisted mainly of families and Puritans who wanted to escape persecution and purify the Church of England (76). Due to the volume of families and living in a healthier region, New England was successful (74). -
The Great Plague of London
The Great Plague, or Bubonic Plague breaks out in the poverty-stricken parish of St. Giles-in-the-Field in London (Johnson). The epidemic that caused vomiting and black patches on the skin began to spread rapidly throughout Europe (Johnson). Dubbed as the "Black Death," the Bubonic plague killed approximately 15% of London's population that summer (Johnson). -
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War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession begins with the succession to the throne of Spain after King Charles II died "War of the Spanish Succession"). After fourteen years, the war ends under the Peace of Utrecht and Philip was recognized as King Philip V of Spain ("War of the Spanish Succession"). -
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Tuscarora War
The Tuscarora War was fought due to conflicts between British, American, Dutch, and German colonists and Tuscarora Native Americans in North Carolina ("Tuscarora War"). The war ensued due to the settlers encroaching on Native American territory and trade disagreements ("Tuscarora War"). The colonists come out of the war victorious ("Tuscarora War"). -
Proclamation of 1763
Parliament issued a proclamation prohibiting the expansion of any English settlement west of the Appalachian mountains (Oakes et al. 174, 175). After the end of the French and Indian War, the British wanted to appease the Indians by preventing settlers from encroaching on Indian territory ("Proclamation of 1763). Parliament increased the size of the peacetime army, worrying colonists that the army would impose customs regulations, rather than policing natives (174). -
The birth of John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was born on their "ninety-five-acre family farm, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts" (Unger 10). He was the second child of John and Abigail Adams (7). As the first son of a Founding Father, "John Quincy was the most recent in a long line of illustrious forebears who helped shape the destiny of the English-speaking world" (7). -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was signed by Congress to declare the thirteen American colonies as thirteen newly sovereign states, independent from British rule (Oakes et al. 198, 199). The document justifies separation from the British Empire by listing accusations against King George III and defending certain fundamental rights and liberties (198). Among the signators were John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin (197). -
John Quincy Adams sails for France with his father
John Quincy Adams sails to France with his father, the emissary of Congress (Unger xiii). He was ten years old when he and John Adams set out to seek financial aid from the French for the Revolutionary War (5). Although he knew the voyage would be dangerous, "Adams and his son had been apart for nearly two years," and "[he] missed the joys of nurturing his oldest son" (6). John Adams wanted "to expose 'Johnny' to the glories of French and European culture" (6). -
End of Revolutionary War
The war for independence ends after eight years with the signing of the Treaty of Paris ("When Does the Revolution End?"). American independence is recognized by Great Britain after the thirteen colonies fought for freedom from the British Empire to shape the new nation, the United States of America ("When Does the Revolution End?"). As a result, the First British Empire collapses. -
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The French Revolution
The French Revolution marks a period of redesigning France's political landscape, eliminating the feudal system, and overthrowing the monarchy ("French Revolution"). Napoleon Bonaparte takes over the corrupt Directory through in a coup d'etat and becomes the consul of France, ending the French Revolution ("French Revolution"). -
John Quincy Adams appointed minister to Prussia
President-elect John Adams appoints his son, John Quincy Adams as Minister to Prussia (Unger 105). During his ministry, John Quincy became fluent in Prussia's native language and concluded a Treaty of Amity and Commerce in Berlin ("John Quincy Adams Biography Page 2"). With "the enormous increase in his salary" that came with his new appointment, John Quincy Adams had the financial security he needed to finally marry Louisa Catherine Johnson (105). -
Haiti declares independence
Jean-Jacques Dessalines, declares independence of Haiti, formerly Saint-Domingue, from France. General Dessalines defeated Napoleon Bonaparte's colonial forces, ending the Haitian Revolution, making Haiti the second nation in the western hemisphere to gain its independence from a European power -
John Quincy Adams is appointed secretary of state
John Quincy Adams is appointed Secretary of State by President James Monroe (Unger 190). His appointment is "the first sign of a break in the Virginia dynasty that had provided four of the first five Presidents" (190). Although he had never expressed a desire for public office, John Quincy "said he accepted his appointment 'for the good of [his] country," thus becoming "secretary of state, an office considered 'the stepladder to the presidential chair''' (198, 201). -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state ("Missouri Compromise"). Its goal was to ease the sectional and political tensions caused by Missouri's request to be admitted as a slave state ("Missouri Compromise"). -
John Quincy Adams is elected sixth President of the United States
John Quincy Adams is elected sixth President of the United States by the House of Representatives (Unger 235). He ran against Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, and William H. Crawford (235). The election was considered controversial because none of the candidates had received a majority of Electoral College votes, forcing the House of Representatives to decide the election (235). -
John Quincy Adams's firstborn son dies
John Quincy Adams's firstborn son, George Washington Adams, dies at twenty-eight (Unger 259). The night of his death, he was on board a steamboat from Providence to New York on the way to meet John Quincy and Louisa in Washington D.C. (259). Intoxicated, George Washington Adams requested to stop the ship so he could get off (259). When the captain denied his request, George Washington Adams jumped or fell overboard, killing him (259). -
John Quincy Adams wins Supreme Court decision freeing black prisoners of the Amistad
John Quincy Adams wins Supreme Court decision to free the black prisoners of the Amistad (Unger 294). He argued that prisoners were once free men who were taken from their homes and abducted on a ship and deserved justice (292). Although his efforts to free the slaves were criticized by many, John Quincy was congratulated on his "triumph of humanity and justice" and the "vindication of [our] national character from reproach and dishonor" (294). -
John Quincy Adams dies in House of Representatives
John Quincy Adams dies at eighty-years-old in the House of Representatives (Unger 310). A fellow congressman caught John Quincy in his arms when he fell trying to stand up and respond to the clerk (308, 309). His last words were "This is the end of earth, but I am composed," before he slipped into a coma (310). John Quincy Adams died two days later "in the Capitol he adored" (310). -
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The Crimean War
The Crimean War was a military conflict that resulted from a Russian threat on European interests and Russia's pressure on Turkey ("Crimean War"). The war was fought between Russia, Great Britain, and France ("Crimean War"). After three years, Russia accepts defeat, and the Peace of Paris was signed, ending the war ("Crimean War"). -
Beginning of the Civil War
The Civil War begins with the battle at Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina ("The Civil War begins"). The war is four-year internal conflict between the Northern states, the Union, and the Southern states, the Confederacy about states rights and the issue of slavery ("The Civil War Begins").
