Presidency of John Quincy Adams
As president, John Quincy Adams promoted a strong nationalist agenda. A supporter of the American System, Adams called for more government spending to build roads and canals. He also believed in the merits of a protective tariff and a strong national defense. The intellectual Adams further advocated government measures to promote education and learning, such as a national university and an astronomical observatory. These proposals for a more active federal government alarmed many Americans, continuing what would be a recurring theme in U.S. history.
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Click on this link to read John Quincy Adams's inaugural address and other related documents. |
From the time of his inauguration, Adams faced resistance from his political opponents. This opposition grew in strength as the President tried to advance his agenda. By the mid-1820s, many Americans believed the government was becoming too active in its efforts to promote economic growth. This concern would spark political dissension. Southerners especially disliked the increased spending for internal improvements and the protective tariff. Adams further lost popularity in the South when he opposed Georgia's efforts to remove Native Americans from the state.
Though highly learned and hardworking, Adams lacked the gifts of a skilled politician. The President's inability to win popular support for his policies allowed the political divisions in the country to widen. The split eventually resulted in the emergence of rival political parties. Adams, Clay, and the supporters of the administration called themselves the National Republicans. An anti-Adams coalition united around Andrew Jackson and called themselves Democrats. Adams, Clay, and the supporters of the administration called themselves the National Republicans, but later called themselves Whigs to distinguish themselves from Jackson's party.
Bucket Game: Rival Political Factions
Play the following bucket game to test your knowledge of the rival political factions that emerged in the United States in the 1820s.
