When Russia entered a war with the Ottoman Empire in 1828, President Quincy Adams clearly understood the implications on the potential for Greece earning their independence. In fact, in his State of the Union address that year Adams expressed hope that the "the energy of the Emperor Nicholas" would give the "suffering Greeks" a better chance at winning their freedom and independence. Greece had been under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries when revolutionaries from the Southern region known as Peloponnese revolted and captured the city of Athens in 1822. These early successes sent hope around the world that the chains of the Ottoman Empire were loosening.
By 1828, the Ottoman Empire was in a period of decay due to uprisings like that in Greece and was now facing its strongest opponent ever as the Russian empire expanded and fought to capture land that was at the time part of the Ottoman Empire. As the Russian Empire expanded into the Black Sea, the Caucasus and south-eastern Europe, the two empires struggled for influence in trade and economics, and border fights intensified. As the revolt in Greece evolved into a full out struggle for independence, Russian forces under Emperor Nicholas I advanced into Bulgaria. At the start of the hostilities, the Russian army under Emperor Nicholas had 100,000 men. The Russians attempted sieges on three key Ottoman citadels in Bulgaria, but were unable to sustain the siege as many of the soldier died of disease or exhaustion. The campaign was a failure, and Nicholas had to withdraw his troops after heavy losses and without capturing 2 of the 3 citadels. Russian troops continued to suffer heavy losses in the Balkans, but eventually were in position to be a serious threat to the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul. The Ottoman State had no choice but to call for a truce. In part due to the support from Russia and the Russia's actions to threaten the Ottoman Empire, Greece, Moldavia, Wallachia and Serbia were all able to gain their independence.
In 1828, prior to the ending of the Russian-Turkish war, President John Quincy Adams clearly understood the implications of the war on the potential of Greece earning their independence. In his final State of the Union address, President Adams wrote that the declaration of war by Russia was greeted with approval, even if reluctantly by her allies and with the hope that Emperor Nicholas would persevere long enough to give the "suffering Greeks" an opportunity to secure "the triumph of humanity and of freedom". Adams, consistent with America's policy of neutrality did not establish any alliances with Russia in the war, but he made it quite clear what side we were on. Russia had been a member of the Holy alliance, and was still considered to be a Christian monarchy in 1828, while the Ottoman Empire was one that was inspired and sustained by Islamic institutions. Adams described the empire as one where we had few trade relations with, and whose geographic distance, "religious opinions", and government was so far from ours that no "bonds of mutual benevolence" were allowed develop between us. Instead, the relations with the Muslim nation was one of coldness and alienation.
"In the relations of our Federal Union with our brethren of the human race the changes which have occurred since the close of your last session have generally tended to the preservation of peace and to the cultivation of harmony. Before your last separation a war had unhappily been kindled between the Empire of Russia, one of those with which our intercourse has been no other than a constant exchange of good offices, and that of the Ottoman Porte, a nation from which geographical distance, religious opinions and maxims of government on their part little suited to the formation of those bonds of mutual benevolence which result from the benefits of commerce had department us in a state, perhaps too much prolonged, of coldness and alienation.
The extensive, fertile, and populous dominions of the Sultan belong rather to the Asiatic than the European division of the human family. They enter but partially into the system of Europe, nor have their wars with Russia and Austria, the European States upon which they border, for more than a century past disturbed the pacific relations of those States with the other great powers of Europe. Neither France nor Prussia nor Great Britain has ever taken part in them, nor is it to be expected that they will at this time. The declaration of war by Russia has received the approbation or acquiescence of her allies, and we may indulge the hope that its progress and termination will be signalized by the moderation and forbearance no less than by the energy of the Emperor Nicholas, and that it will afford the opportunity for such collateral agency in behalf of the suffering Greeks as will secure to them ultimately the triumph of humanity and of freedom."
Closing of the Dardanelles
As described above the Russo-Turkish war was a struggle for influence and trade. One of the major events that precipitated the war was the closing of the Dardanelles by the Sultan of Turkey to Russian ships. The Dardanelles is a very narrow natural strait in northwestern Turkey that forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and separates Asian Turkey from European Turkey. President Adams recognized the importance of this strait and late in the same address, asked Congress to consider the situation. The United States was an ally of Emperor Nicholas and Russia at the time, and feared that the blockade by Turkey would impact U.S. trade. At minimum, the U.S. Naval squadrons would need to be kept in the area."With a portion of them the correspondence of our commanders on the eastern aspect of the South American coast and among the islands of Greece discover how far we have been involved. In these the honor of our country and the rights of our citizens have been asserted and vindicated. The appearance of new squadrons in the Mediterranean and the blockade of the Dardanelles indicate the danger of other obstacles to the freedom of commerce and the necessity of keeping our naval force in those seas. To the suggestions repeated in the report of the Secretary of the Navy, and tending to the permanent improvement of this institution, I invite the favorable consideration of Congress."
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2018). John Quincy Adams: Fourth Annual Message. [online] Available at: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29470 [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
Abdukadyrov, N. (2015). Russian-Turkish War of 1828-1829 and Political Positions of European States. [online] www.sciencedirect.com. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042815029158 [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1828%E2%80%931829) [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018). Russo-Turkish wars | Russo-Turkish history. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Russo-Turkish-wars [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829). [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1828%E2%80%931829) [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
Encyclopedia Britannica. (2018). Russo-Turkish wars | Russo-Turkish history. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Russo-Turkish-wars [Accessed 13 Jun. 2018].
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