One of the things he was responsible for as secretary of state was the Transcontinental Treaty with Spain, signed on Feb. 22, 1819 (ratified Feb. 22, 1821). He was the only president to hold office in the House of Representatives after his presidential term expired. Adams was supportive of better roads, canals, a better navy and army, and better schools.As opponents pointed out his policy toward native americans implied a dangerous touch of humanity that might apply to slaves as well. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives he had firm views against slavery. He views did not changed upon being elected president and causeed the anger of the proslavery members of congress, which brought about the passage of the first ``Gag Rule,'' the Pinckney Resolution, as presented by Henry L. Pinckney, of South Carolina.

Also under his term the completion was seen of the Erie Canal. In 1825 appointment of Henry Clay as secretary of state, led to charges that Clay and Adams made a bargain in the election of 1824. At the time he was the only son of a president to become president. Also his passage of "Tariff of Abominations" whose unfair rates leaned toward New England manufacturers and hurt Southern farmers was part of his losing the re-election to Andrew Jackson. When he left the presidency 1829 he had already served in about as many high public offices as any other person before or since. He died after a stroke in the Speaker's room in Washington on February 23, 1848, while serving his last term as Representative. His last words were: "This is the last of earth. I am content."