“America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy ...She might become the dictatress of the world,But she would no longer be the ruler of her own spirit.”-- John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) In the middle of his term as Secretary of State, the future president John Quincy Adams requested permission to address a joint session of Congress. Such a request is unheard of in modern times. What was on his mind? The United States had just fought Great Britain to a draw in the War of 1812. It was...





















