John Quincy Adams: First Annual Message to Congress

In his First Annual Message to Congress, delivered on December 6, 1825, John Quincy Adams, the newly elected president of the United States, outlined his nationalistic ideals. The career of Adams had three distinct phases: diplomat, president, and congressman. As president, Adams sought through his public messages to persuade a factionalized Congress to pursue an ambitious national program of development. His First Annual Message captures this presidential philosophy. In his message, Adams presents the federal govenment as the primary agent in achieving this goal. His sense of the power of government was wide-ranging and his argument for improvement unequivocal. Using his experience in foreign service, he places the United States in an international context and offers a statesmanlike program for national greatness.