289 Misfortunes of Adams Administration

289. Misfortunes of Adams Administration

Adams ＇ s first mistake was the ap - pointment of Clay as Secretary of State . It was a mistake , because it gave the Jackson men a chance to assert that there had been a " deal " between Adams and Clay . They called Clay the " Judas of the West .＂ They said that the " will of the people " had been defeated by a " corrupt bargain .＂ These charges were repeated over and over again until many people really began to think that there must be some reason for them . The Jackson men also most unjustly ac - cused Adams of stealing the nation ＇ s money . The British government seized the opportunity of Adams ＇ s weak administration to close the West India ports to American shipping .