John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy, by Samuel Flagg Bemis, presents a detailed history of US foreign policy during the early years of the republic, roughly 1790-1830, using Adam's career as a central theme. This approach is appropriate since Adams was really America's first career diplomat and was involved in virtually every diplomatic development during these years. His efforts were highly instrumental in expanding US territory westward to the Pacific. After reading this (and several other books by Professor Bemis), I have concluded that Adams' role in early US history is greatly underappreciated. Rather than write a detailed review supporting this conclusion, I'm just going to summarize Adams' career and diplomatic accomplishments in the following lists which I think make this point as well as I could:
Adams' Career:
Minister to The Netherlands, 1794-95
Minister to Prussia, 1797-1801
US Senator from Massachusetts, 1801-06
Minister to Russia, 1809-12
Minister to Great Britain, 1815-17
Secretary of State, 1817-25
President, 1825-29
Major Treaties and Policies:
1. Treaty of Ghent (with Britain, 1814)
Ended the War of 1812
Generally restored the status quo ante bellum between Britain and the US even though Britain had the stronger military position at the war's end
2. Treaty of 1818 (with Britain - 1818)
Reestablished US fishing rights off Newfoundland that had been restricted during the War of 1812
Resolved numerous boundary disputes between US and British Canada
Established an agreement on US and British naval forces on the Great Lakes
3. Transcontinental Treaty (with Spain - 1819)
Transferred Florida from Spain to the US
Established the boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase with Spanish Mexico
Extended southern boundary of Louisiana Purchase to the Pacific Ocean
4. Monroe Doctrine (Unilateral Declaration - 1823)
Announced by President Monroe, heavily influenced by Secretary of State Adams
US opposes establishment of new European colonies in western Hemisphere
US abstains from involvement in European conflicts
US opposes European interference in Western Hemisphere
5. Alaskan Agreement (with Russia - 1827)
Established the southern boundary of Russian Alaska at 54 deg 40 min latitude
Removed Russia as a contender for the Oregon country, leaving US and Britain as the remaining claimants (Spain had renounced its claim in the Transcontinental Treaty in 1819)
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
About the author
