CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS SR.
(Charles Francis Adams)
The compromises were in regard to slavery. The founding fathers – the first generation of Americans could not resolve the slavery issue. In order to get the Southern States into the original union, the Northern states had to make very unpalatable compromises that in effect gave Southern states much more political power than their numbers would entitle them to. In addition, they agreed not to even discuss slavery in Congress for many years. The institution grew worse and the third and fourth generations of Americans were at each other’s throats over slavery finally culminating in the Civil War.
Veiled threat to England to stop Confederate agents from building ships in Britain. In one of the great, artfully worded, diplomatic messages, Adams threatened to take direct action in British territory without ever threatening anything. It worked, and the vessel construction was curtailed by the British.
Charles Francis Adams Sr. was an American historical editor, writer, politician, and diplomat. He was a son of President John Quincy Adams, and grandson of President John Adams, about whom he wrote a major biography. He was the father of Henry Adams.
