John Adams: The Original Model Quiz

Answer: Braintree

The town of Braintree was established in 1640. Quincy was at that time a precinct of Braintree. In a fit of individualism, it broke away from Braintree in 1792, establishing itself as a town. City incorporation came in 1888. The town's founder and namesake, Colonel John Quincy, was a great-grandfather of John Quincy Adams.

Answer: Thomas Preston

Adams, along with his partner Josiah Quincy, were the only lawyers in Boston willing to face the wrath of their neighbors and defend Preston. Although a patriot, Adams believed that the British soldiers involved were innocent, and that more blame need be placed at the doorsteps of the "victims." Adams surprised Boston, and himself, by successfully defending Captain Preston, and then winning the acquital of six of the eight soldiers.

The two that were convicted were found guilty only of manslaughter, and received a slap on the wrist.

They had their thumbs branded. As for Adams, for his efforts he received very little money and a great deal of enmity on the part of his fellow Bostonians, including his cousin, Samuel Adams.

Answer: U.S. Constitution

During the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787, Adams was busy serving as America's first minister to the Court of St. James in England. He, of course, played a huge part in both the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. Adams also helped draft the Massachusetts State Constitution. Older than the U.S. Constitution, the Massachusetts Constitution is the oldest written governmental charter in the world.

Answer: There were all holdovers from Washington's presidency.

Adams' reasons for keeping all of Washington's last cabinet have been questioned for years, as Adams had, at best, a difficult relationship with most of the members. One reason he kept them was that it would have been difficult to find replacements. The low pay and lack of prestige (sounds like my job) kept away many a qualified candidate. Adams, as Washington's vice president, saw the difficulty Washington had in filling these positions. Better to keep the status quo than run the risk of not having an attorney general or secretary of state. Also, the 1796 election, thanks to the shenanigans of Alexander Hamilton, had caused great divisions within the Federalist Party.

Some have offered the theory that Adams kept the present members in order to avoid further erosion of the party.

Answer: Benjamin Franklin

Adams and Franklin were part of the committee that negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, ending the Revolutionary War. Although Franklin respected Adams, they had conflicting personalities. While Franklin was genial and open, Adams could be cold and distant. To his family, however, Adams was a warm, loving man.

The letters between himself and his wife Abigail bear testament to a life-long love affair that was rooted in mutual trust and respect. Guess it's all in the point of view.

Answer: Old Man Eloquent

"Old Man Eloquent" was actually John Quincy Adams, who was called such when he served in the House of Representatives after his own stint as president. Adams the younger pulled no punches in his diatribes against Presidents Jackson and Van Buren.

Answer: Secretary of the Navy

One of Adams' more flattering, and accurate, nicknames is "Father of the American Navy." As president, he pushed for a strong navy to offset the naval power of France and England, both of whom were threatening to use the U.S. as a pawn in their own little spat. Adams was determined to strengthen America's power of neutrality by strengthening the navy and created the post in 1798.

The Postmaster General was given cabinet status in 1829 by Andrew Jackson. The Interior came into existence under Zachary Taylor in 1849.

The secretary of the Army has never been a cabinet position.

Answer: William Johnson

Johnson was appointed by Jefferson in 1804, with the hope of offsetting the power and influence that Chief Justice Marshall held on the bench. Marshall had been appointed Chief Justice by Adams shortly before the latter left office in 1801. Bushrod Washington's father was John Washington, one of George's brothers.

Answer: James Monroe

In 1820, Adams, now 86 years old, cast one of Massachusetts' 15 electoral votes for President Monroe, who had carried all 24 states in the Union at that time.

Answer: The Naturalization Act

A little background: the XYZ Affair refers to the attempted bribery of American representatives to France in order for American retribution to be addressed. Documents that revealed the French treachery had the names of the American reps substituted with the letters XYZ. War was a very real possibility for two years, until another peace mission accomplished what the first had been denied.

The Alien and Sedition Acts grew out of the anti-French and anti-foreign clamor on the part of the public (and the anti-Republican sentiment amongst the party in power) from the affair.

The Alien Act allowed the president to deport any alien deemed dangerous. The Alien Enemies Act, which was directly aimed at French immigrants, authorized the president, in times of war, to round up and imprison enemy aliens living in America.

The Sedition Act was directed at anti-Federalist newspapers and publications by threatening fines and imprisonment for anyone writing or speaking against the president and/or the federal government. All three were allowed to expire in 1800.

The Naturalization Act, which was designed to make the achievement of citizenship of immigrants difficult, if not impossible, was aimed to weaken the Republican party, the party of Jefferson. Most immigrants adhered to Republican teachings. It was repealed in 1802.