No. 06 · The Presidents
John Quincy Adams
1825-1829
Adams was the first president to wholeheartedly endorse and constitutionally defend federal spending for internal improvements, causing a seismic shift in the accepted role of government. Adams initiated a bill that included a 62% tax on nearly all imported goods to protect New England domestic industry at the cost of rising product prices for all other citizens. Those who opposed the bill added intentionally ludicrous tariffs in hopes that both sides would vote it down. Despite this tactic, the bill was passed and quickly and aptly named the “Tariff of Abominations.”
Lyrics
Em, C, G, D
John quincy adams was a sport
He thought by taxing all imports
He'd keep domestic business strong
Poor johnny couldn't have been more wrong
It's an abomination
tarrifs you gave the nation
John quincy adams was the first
president who didn't think the worst
Of a government that did a whole whole lot
but no one was prepared for what we got
He made a bill that raised tariffs high
Opponents laughed, said what's with this guy?
So they added their own, knowing it would fail
But they must not have known Johnny all too well
They couldn't believe their eyes
Tariffs and taxes that reached toward the skies
And they called it an abomination
The tariff of abominations
From the book, published 2009 · song & page updated
An abomination