Heirs of an honored name : the decline of the Adams family and the rise of modern America

Generations -- The assemblyman -- The free soiler -- The congressman -- The minister -- The officer -- The combatants -- The colonel -- The independents -- A singular, unsolved family;"John and Abigail Adams sired the first dynasty to shape American politics, but they would not witness their family's calamitous fall from grace. When President John Quincy Adams died in 1848, so began the slow death of the family's political legacy -- a decline that mirrored the fall of the Republican Party. The Adamses would abandon their forefather's enlightened republicanism, yielding to the temptation of oligarchy and personal spoils. In Heirs of an Honored Name, award-winning historian Douglas Egerton depicts a family grown famous, wealthy -- and aimless. After the Civil War, the country's future was up for grabs. Republicans disillusioned with President Ulysses S. Grant's governance looked to the Adams family to steer their party back to its 1840s roots. Instead, family patriarch Charles Francis Sr. refused to fight for the nomination in 1872 and 1876, and the family eventually quit the political arena altogether for the luxuries of Gilded Age America. Heirs of an Honored Name tells the enthralling, troubling story of the nation's first family and the end of an older, aristocratic America amid the upheavals of the Gilded Age"-- John And Abigail Adams Sired The First Dynasty To Shape American Politics, But They Would Not Witness Their Family's Calamitous Fall From Grace. When President John Quincy Adams Died In 1848, So Began The Slow Death Of The Family's Political Legacy -- A Decline That Mirrored The Fall Of The Republican Party. The Adamses Would Abandon Their Forefather's Enlightened Republicanism, Yielding To The Temptation Of Oligarchy And Personal Spoils. In Heirs Of An Honored Name, Award-winning Historian Douglas Egerton Depicts A Family Grown Famous, Wealthy -- And Aimless. After The Civil War, The Country's Future Was Up For Grabs. Republicans Disillusioned With President Ulysses S. Grant's Governance Looked To The Adams Family To Steer Their Party Back To Its 1840s Roots. Instead, Family Patriarch Charles Francis Sr. Refused To Fight For The Nomination In 1872 And 1876, And The Family Eventually Quit The Political Arena Altogether For The Luxuries Of Gilded Age America. Heirs Of An Honored Name Tells The Enthralling, Troubling Story Of The Nation's First Family And The End Of An Older, Aristocratic America Amid The Upheavals Of The Gilded Age-- Generations -- The Assemblyman -- The Free Soiler -- The Congressman -- The Minister -- The Officer -- The Combatants -- The Colonel -- The Independents -- A Singular, Unsolved Family Douglas Egerton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "John and Abigail Adams sired the first dynasty to shape American politics, but they would not witness their family's calamitous fall from grace. When President John Quincy Adams died in 1848, so began the slow death of the family's political legacy -- a decline that mirrored the fall of the Republican Party. The Adamses would abandon their forefather's enlightened republicanism, yielding to the temptation of oligarchy and personal spoils. In Heirs of an Honored Name, award-winning historian Douglas Egerton depicts a family grown famous, wealthy -- and aimless. After the Civil War, the country's future was up for grabs. Republicans disillusioned with President Ulysses S. Grant's governance looked to the Adams family to steer their party back to its 1840s roots. Instead, family patriarch Charles Francis Sr. refused to fight for the nomination in 1872 and 1876, and the family eventually quit the political arena altogether for the luxuries of Gilded Age America. Heirs of an Honored Name tells the enthralling, troubling story of the nation's first family and the end of an older, aristocratic America amid the upheavals of the Gilded Age"-- Provided by publisher An enthralling chronicle of the American nineteenth century told through the unraveling of the nation's first political dynasty John and Abigail Adams founded a famous political family, but they would not witness its calamitous fall from grace. When John Quincy Adams died in 1848, so began the slow decline of the family's political legacy. In Heirs of an Honored Name , award-winning historian Douglas R. Egerton depicts a family grown famous, wealthy -- and aimless. After the Civil War, Republicans looked to the Adamses to steer their party back to its radical 1850s roots. Instead, Charles Francis Sr. and his children -- Charles Francis Jr., John Quincy II, Henry and Clover Adams, and Louisa Adams Kuhn -- largely quit the political arena and found refuge in an imagined past of aristocratic preeminence. An absorbing story of brilliant siblings and family strain, Heirs of an Honored Name shows how the burden of impossible expectations shaped the Adamses and, through them, American history.