Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Hana Britland
May 1, 2013
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Massachusetts. He was the eldest son of former President John Adams and
became the sixth President of the United States (18251829) being regarded
Masonic and Whig parties. Even with his unproductive presidency due to an
Doctrine, negotiating the Treaty of Ghent of 1814, gaining Florida from Spain,
and being the founder of the Smithsonian Institution. He is the only ex-
career, Quincy Adams tried to keep the United States neutral in foreign
literature. The literatures that will be focused on in this article will include
Theory and Ideas, and Paul C. Nagels biography John Quincy Adams: a
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Public Life, a Private Life. This paper will compare these three books, noting
state.
There are many similarities that the three books all focus on of Adams
early life. Remini, Nagel, and Lipsky make emphasis on JQAs experiences in
Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. While the authors could see the
recognized that John regretted the time he spent abroad, saying that it
stunted his education because his studies were informal and lacked
organization and purpose.1 Remini and Nagel both stressed the importance of
the family name and the pressure that was put on Quincy to pursue moral
have his way, and how sensitive he was to criticism as a child that would
later cause problems for him in political office. Lipsky also focused on Johns
incapability to work with others. John believed his way was the right way and
other views were inferior to his. All three books contain the influential event
when John witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill with his mother at age eight.
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The battle gave him a better understanding of the price of freedom and it
was a turning point in his life when his parents started his demanding
being a child. Johnny himself grew to believe that he played too much and
must study more so that his parent should never be ashamed of me.3
Nagel goes more in-depth of the family history of both the Adams and
Smith side. He goes back to the clans founder, Henry Adams arriving in
Massachusetts Bay in 1632.4 Nagel shows Quincy Adams love for his home,
relatives, and family origin, portraying JQA as a happy and proud child. He
also explains why Johnny gained reverence for his father. While Remini only
Lipsky does not mention Johnnys childhood like the other two authors do. He
does not dedicate a chapter for Quincys childhood, but combines it with his
the point.
John Quincy Adams career started when he went to Europe with his
father. Both Nagel and Lipsky start Johnnys career as a private secretary to
Francis Dana in St. Petersburg. Remini does mention JQAs time in St.
Petersburg and gives more detail of his experience in Russia than Lipsky
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does, but Remini focuses Johnnys starting career after his graduation from
Harvard University. Throughout the entire book, Remini and Nagel equally
told the public, private, and social life of John especial in his teenage years
and early career. They told of his love for the arts like theater and music.
They gave many accounts of Johnnys dairy, explaining the thoughts and
actions John took. They wrote what was important to Johnny like his goals in
public service, his family with Louisa Johnson an English woman, his studies,
and his determination to do right by his father. All three books constantly
math, science, religion, and history. It is said that he was happy to go back
The main attention of John Quincys early career was his time as a
Between 1797 and 1815, JQA became minister to Prussia, then returned to
political party became displeased with him because he did not always back
up there side. He said My sense of duty shall never yield to the pleasure of
Lipsky takes it as far as saying John does not belong to any party.7
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There are not many differences between Reminis and Nagels book.
They both go through his career life in chronologic order and add social
aspects of his life too. But Remini thoroughly goes through all the position
that John held, giving individual details. He even writes of Johns failed law
the friendship with Czar Alexander I and the negotiation of the Treaty of
Ghent. Even though Nagel names all of Johns positions, he focuses more on
his private life, especially during his ministry to Prussia. Nagel emphasized
Johns public life more in events like getting a seat in the Senate and
the golden years of Johns life. He dedicates a chapter to his life in Harvard
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and makes him out as a celebrity, even calling the chapter Celebrity.
Lipsky again is very brief with Johns career. He gave equal importance
to each event mentioned in his book, except of course his involvement in the
treat of Ghent and during his time as secretary of state. Lipsky divides Johns
life and career story into a chapter to help strengthen the understanding of
more about the person of Adams politically. Even explaining his personality
describes his political view. He showed politics controlled his whole life.
John was respected for standing up for his views and was also accepted for
Secretary of State
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All three books separate Johns time as secretary of state from his
career. Remini said JQA is arguably the greatest secretary of state to serve
that office. His negotiating skills and diplomatic insights were mainly
country as a world power.9 They all say that JAQ intended to build a new era
unsettled at Ghent. He started with the Fisheries question that dealt with the
liberty of Americans to fish off the banks of North America. Through this
American right to fish in this area. He felt obligated to finish what his father
started. The authors make Johns secretary office a time of victory. Quincy
seized during the War of 1812. This resulted in the making of the Convention
of 1818 which also made a boundary line from the Lakes of the Woods to the
Rocky Mountains. The Convention of 1818 was passed, but it did not resolve
impressment.
Andrew Jackson led an army across Florida lines to attack the Seminole
Indians, he also executed two British nationals for arming the Indians and
Jacksons action by arguing that Spain was incapable to police their territory
and prevent savages from killing American citizens. The President accepted
Florida. Spain also surrendered its claim to the Pacific Northwest to the US.
Remini and Nagel argue that it was the greatest diplomatic victory won by
Remini, Nagel, and Lipsky cover Adams hope that Europe would stop
meddling in American affairs, just as the United States would stay clear of
from both sides Adams also hoped that the US could expand westward
was possible by eluding European conflicts. All three authors pull attention to
the same events, but Nagel brought up family situation too, while Lipsky and
moment, for himself and his country. But Remini does not give as much
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credit to Adams as Nagel and Lipsky do. Remini says that Adams only
advanced the ideas of the doctrine and he was brief in his explanation. Nagel
and Lipsky go into more detail and give more credit to Adams. They say, not
only did he inspire the core makings of the Monroe Doctrine, but he nearly
wrote the whole thing and then Monroe consented to it. Once again Nagel
adds troubles and events of Johns family life. As his book is titled JQA: A
Public life, a private life, he is fair to comment on Johns political life and
Later on when John was running for president, the authors focus more
on the election process of 1824 than Quincys actual Presidential term. After
fought to end slavery, passing the "gag rule". On February 21, 1848, Adams
hemorrhage and was carried to the Speaker's Room, where he died two days
the country and American politics through his foreign negotiations. Between
these three books, I enjoyed Robert Reminis biography the most. It is well
organized and his balance between his political and private life is excellent.
He used many quotes that enhanced the credibility and story. Lipskys book
organization was also distasteful to me, but it is very well written adding
other significant views of Johns Ideas and theories. Paul Nagel book would
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be my second choice. It is very similar to Remini, but with more detail. I did
enjoy the extra experiences, but I think he added too much detail. There
were parts in the book that were unnecessary to explain his life story. But as
a collection the books were even more valuable, each focusing on different
Notes
1. Robert V. Remini, John Quincy Adams. (New York: Henry Holt and
company, 2002), 17-18
Bibliography
Lipsky, George A. John Quincy Adams: His Theory and Ideas. New York:
Thomas Y. Crowell
Company, 1950
Nagel, Paul C. John Quincy Adams: a Public Life, a Private Life. New York:
Knopf, 1997
Remini, Robert V. John Quincy Adams. New York: Henry Holt and company,
2002