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American History
Events before the civil war and the life of John Quincy Adams -
English found Jamestown
The first colonists came to Jamestown, VA on April 26, 1607(Oakes 63). The colonist were sent over to the New World by the Virginia Company(Oakes 63). The colonists were given food and shelter in return for working for the Virginia Company until they were an established colony, which was estimated to take up to seven years(Oakes 63). Once established, the colonists were also promised to be given land(Oakes 63). -
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Thirty Years War
The Thirty Years War lasted from 1618 to 1648, hence the name Thirty Years War("Thirty...). This war involved the nations of Sweden, France, Austria, and Spain("Thirty...). This war, like many wars, involved a fight over religion("Thirty...). The Bohemian Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, started getting involved in and controlling his countries religion("Thirty...). There were of course, people who did not agree with him, and thus led to the protestants forming a rebellion("Thirty...). -
Pequot War
The Pequot War was fueled by conflicts over land. The Pequots first invited the colonists into their land in hopes that the English would help them keep their trade monopoly, however the colonists took this opportunity to move into new lands, which alarmed the Pequots. The Pequots ended up being easily overpowered by the combination of the colonists and Narragansett attackers. -
Salem Witchcraft Trials
The Salem Witch Craft Trials took place in the year of 1692(Oakes 113).John Hathorne and Jonathon Corwin were two leaders who were sent to Salem, MA because of accusations of witchcraft there(Oakes 113). Once the trials were over, a total of 156 people were put in jail and 20 had been executed(Oakes 113). The majority of those accused of witchcraft were disagreeable women in the community(Oakes 113). -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris ended the 7 Years' War, also known as the French and Indian War("The French...). This war was fought between the nations of France, Spain, and Great Britain, however it was fought on what is now American soil("The French...). This treaty resulted in the French losing much of their land to Britain, which is one of the reasons why they aided the patriots in the American Revolution fifteen years later("The French...). -
Stamp Act
The Stamp Act taxed many different American materials such as documents, newspapers, licenses, leases, contracts, and much more(Oakes 176). This was the first direct tax on the American colonies(Oakes 176). Many taxes were placed on the Americans during this time period, however this tax angered them the most because they had to pay extra for every paper material they bought(Oakes 176). -
JQA Born in Braintree, MA
John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, MA on July 11, 1767(Unger 10). He was the first son born to John and Abigail Adams(Unger 10). The home where he was born was just one of many properties built on the Adams' ninety-five-acre farm(Unger 10). -
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea party took place on December 16, 1773(Oakes 186). A group of about 50 colonist men dressed up as Indians dumped 340 chests of Tea off the ships in the Boston Harbor(Oakes 186). The British government was enraged at the act of defiance and would go on to pass five bills the next year as punishment for the colonists(Oakes 186). -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
In the year 1775, the British government ordered General Thomas Gage to seize the colonists weapons and military supplies from a base at Concord(Oakes 194). The British soldiers were surprised, however, when they were met by Militia-men of the colonies(Oakes 194). The Militia-men did not submit to the British soldiers, and this led to a fight(Oakes 194). It is still not clear, even to this day, which side took the first shot and started the Revolutionary War(Oakes 194). -
JQA opened his Law office
John Quincy Adams earned his degree in Law from Harvard in 1787(Unger 71). After he passed his bar exams, he opened up his own law office in Boston(Unger 71). He assumed his well-known family name would bring business instantly, however it did not flourish like he had hoped(Unger 71). He stated in his journal, "I have a profession without employment. The hope of supporting myself is probably somewhat distant" (Unger 71). -
JQA appointed US minister to Holland
John Quincy Adams was appointed US minister to Holland by president Washington in 1794(Unger 82). Washington chose Adams because of his impressive writing and foreign experience; and he was greatly relieved to learn that it was not arranged by his father(Unger 82). He stated that the appointment, "had been as unexpected to him [his father]as to myself and that he had never uttered a word upon which a wish on his part could be presumed that a public office should be conferred upon me"(Unger 82). -
Haitian Independence Proclaimed
Haiti, formerly called Saint-Domingue, was a French colony("Haitian..). A slave revolt in 1791 started this battle led by Toussaint-Louverture, who was a former slave himself("Haitian..). He made a great amount of progress, however Napoleon invaded the land in 1802, and Toussaint was arrested and killed("Haitian..). Dessalines arose to be the new leader of the rebellion, and with the help of the British, they were able to defeat the French. Haiti once again gained its independence("Haitian..). -
The Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise came about when the state of Missouri wanted to apply for statehood(Oakes 303). The big question, however, was whether it would be admitted as a free or slave state(Oakes 303). The questioned was able to be answered once Maine also applied for statehood(Oakes 303). Maine became a free state, while Missouri became a slave state, thus preserving the balance between slave and free states(Oakes 303). The compromise passed in March of 1820 by a narrow margin(Oakes 303). -
JQA 6th President of the US
John Quincy Adams is the 6th president of the United States of America(Unger 236). The electoral college vote resulted inconclusive, so the House of Representative chose John Quincy Adams as the winner(Unger 235). Jackson, his opponent in the election, called their decision a "corrupt bargain" (Unger 239). -
MA elects JQA to HOR
Massachusetts elected Adams to the House of Representatives in 1830.After his election loss in 1828,Adams returned to politics with a new approach:to represent the whole nation and stay independent of party affiliation.This election seemed to be a great new beginning for Adams as he stated,"But this call upon me by the people of the district in which I reside,to represent them in Congress,has been spontaneous.No election or appointment conferred upon me ever gave me so much pleasure"(Unger 262). -
Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of the Alamo took place on February 23, 1836("The Alamo"). It started, however, in December of 1835, when the Texans began occupying the Alamo in hopes of gaining independence from Mexico("The Alamo"). Though they were greatly outnumbered, the Texans held their ground for thirteen days before they were overtaken by the Mexican forces("The Alamo"). -
JQA first photographed president
John Quincy Adams was the first president to be photographed(Unger 297). His photographer was Philip Haas(Unger 297). Haas had opened up a daguerreotype studio and was asked by Adams to take a photograph of himself(Unger 296). This photograph of John Quincy Adams was not technically the first photograph of the president, however it is the first surviving photograph, due to the others having been damaged or lost(Unger 296). -
JQA gives momentous HOR speech
John Quincy Adams gave a momentous speech in the House of Representative in 1842(Unger xv). This speech would help lay the foundation for the Emancipation Proclamation(Unger xv). Adams spent much of his time in Congress fighting slavery as Unger states, "On his first day of Congress, therefore, he hurled his first thunderbolt on the floor of the House,shocking both sides of the aisle with not one but fifteen petitions... "praying for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade..."(Unger 266). -
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Irish Potato Famine
The Irish Potato was a devastating event in history, which led to the death of about one million people. Ireland was so dependent on the potato, that once it was no longer growing successfully, many people starved. The famine not only caused the death of one-eighth of Ireland's population, but also led to another two million people fleeing the country and emigrating to Canada, United States, and other places. The population of Ireland, even to this day, has yet to recover from the famine. -
JQA dies in HOR
John Quincy Adams suffered a stroke in 1846, but devoted to serving the public, returned to the House after his unexpected recovery(Unger xv). He devoted his life to protecting people's rights and freedoms(Unger 310). Adams stated,"My cause is the cause of my country and of human liberty... the fulfillment of prophesies that the day shall come when slavery and war shall be banished from the face of the earth"(Unger 310). Adams died in the House of Representatives on February 23, 1848(Unger 319). -
The South Secedes
The state of South Carolina was the first state of the South to secede from the Union(Oakes 443). There reasoning for secession was because of the election of Abraham Lincoln(Oakes 443). Lincoln did not believe in the right that slaves are property, and the southerners refused to agree with him(Oakes 443).
