As the second president of the United States and the first vice president, John Adams had experienced various kinds of lives of different social positions. Adams, in his early years, tried diverse professions like writer, lawyer, public speaker, and congressman. Later, he became one of the leaders of several political fields, such as the American Revolution and foreign relationships, whose contributions had influenced the United States Constitution. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," said by him, John Adams was more admirable to be a political philosopher than a politician. ("John Adams")
John Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, on October 30, 1735, and he is the first of three children in his family. Adams' father Deacon John Adams was a humble farmer, who is also successful in career as a local public worker. Although Adams considered the choice of entering the ministry, which his father highly supported, he still decided to study law instead, then he entered Harvard and received his bachelor's degree at the age of twenty. In order to develop his legal practice as a lawyer, Adams participated in the town government, and learned to deal with the town affairs. Meanwhile, he was also contributing essays to newspapers offices, which did great benefits for Adams' following life as well. (Shaw 23-24)
When Adams was twenty-nine years old, he married Abigail Smith, who was born into a family of great prestige, and the daughter of a minister. Although most of her education was gained from her grandmother, she was knowledgeable and as politically smart as her husband. Hundreds of the letters between the couple showed that Abigail did provide Adams with significant assistan...
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...dent of the United States later as well. (Shaw 221)
President Adams' final resting place is a crypt beneath the United First Parish Church, which located in his hometown, Quincy. Before passing away, he whispered his last words:" Thomas Jefferson survives." However, Jefferson actually had died a few hours earlier than him. (Shaw, 246)
Works Cited
"John Adams". The White House. Web. 4 May. 2011.
John Adams. Dir. Tom Hooper. Prod. David Coatsworth and Steve Shareshian.
Playtone and HBO Films, 2008. Film.
Kloppenberg, James. "The Journal of American History." Rev. of John Adams. Dir.
Tom Hooper. Prod. David Coatsworth and Steve Shareshian. Playtone and HBO
Films, 2008. Film. (HBO, http://www.hbo.com/films/johnadams/)
Shaw, Peter. The Character of John Adams. New York: University of North Carolina
Press, 1977. Print
John Adams virtually eradicated his chances of easily winning the election of 1800 by defying the hardcore patriotic attitude of many Americans. Through his continued acts, regardless if they were what was best for the country at that particular time or is he believed morally that it was the correct decision, such as approving the Alien and Sedition Acts and helping the British soldiers that were involved in the Boston Massacre, he left no room for himself to take an easy path to the presidency much less any path to the presidency.
John Adams showed his Federalist values throughout his presidency but also put the good of his people above his own personal gain and desire for a second term in order to preserve stability in the nation. Adams was a Federalist which meant he was upper class and wanted a strong central government and this showed when he led his country. He had to keep the nation stable amidst the French’s dislike for him that lead to the X, Y, Z Affair. The X, Y, Z Affair with France led to a three year long Quazi War
JOHN ADAMS – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY HISTORY 1301 – U.S. HISTORY TO 1877 WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON DURING THE EARLY U.S. HISTORY, GEORGE WASHINGTON COMES TO THE FOREFRONT. INCIDENTLY, DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE RESEARCH, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON PEOPLE OR EVENTS ON HISTORY BEFORE 1877. TO MY SURPRISE, INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS. JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS SUPPOSIVELY HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE AND MARRIAGE TOGETHER. JOHN ADAMS SOMETIMES SEEMED TO BE A CONTRADICTING, RUDE AND OUTSPOKEN MAN, BUT AT OTHER TIMES PLAYFUL AND TENDER. ABIGAIL’S INTELLIGENT, CARING AND WITTY CHARACTER MADE UP FOR JOHN’S MANNERS, THEIR MARRIAGE SIGNIFIES THE POSITION IN WHICH A WOMAN WAS INVOLVED IN THE EVOLVING OF A GREAT MAN, FOR HER IMPORTANT FAMILY CONNECTIONS PROBABLY BENEFITED HIS CAREER. JOHN ADAMS WAS BORN IN 1735, BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS TO JOHN ADAMS AND SUSANNA BOYLSTON. JOHN ADAMS WAS THE ELDEST OF THREE SONS. MR ADAMS WAS A DEACON AND FARMER (WHICH MEANT THE FAMILY WAS NOT WEALTHY). MRS ADAMS WAS BORN FROM ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES OF MASSACHUSETTS (THE BOYLSTON’S OWNED A LOT OF PROPERTY). JOHN ADAMS GRADUATED FROM HARVARD IN 1755. UPON GRADUATING, HE WAS OFFERED A JOB TO TEACH IN WORCHESTER. LIKE MOST BACHELORS, JOHN HAD NO INTEREST IN CHILDREN OR THE SLIGHTEST UNDERSTANDING OF THEM. BUT LIKE ANYONE HE ADAPTED TO THE SITUATION, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE HAD TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS. JOHN MARRIED ABIGAIL SMITH IN 1764. ABIGAIL WAS THE SECOND OF FOUR CHILDREN, BORN IN 1744.
First and foremost, some basic knowledge on the early years and the foundation of Adam’s life are imperative to the understanding of Abigail Adams and how she grew into becoming the women she did. Abigail Adams was born Abigail Smith in a church in Weymouth, Massachusetts on November 11, 1744. Adams’s parents were William Smith, a liberal Congregational minister and her mother Elizabeth Quincy was of a prominent political family at the time. Abigail was the second born of four siblings, one brother and three sisters, their family faith was Congregational. The Adams’s were an active family in throughout the community and involved in the politics of the time. A majority of Adams’s younger days consisted of corresponding with family and friends and reading. Her childhood and young adult life didn’t involve much singing, dancing or card playing as young women typically participated in...
The early lives of John Adams and John Quincy Adams are different. John Adams?s father, who also named John, sent his son ? young Adams to Harvard College at age fifteen, and he expected him to become a minister. His father was working hard to make young Adams?s life different than his own which was to become an educated person. However, John Adams did not want to become a minister. After he graduated in 1755, he taught school for few years in Worcester, and that allowed him to think about his career choice. After much reflection, he decided to become a lawyer, and studied law in the office of James Putnam, a prominent lawyer in Worcester. In 1758, he was admitted to the bar. He put the skill to good use as a lawyer, often recording cases he observed so that he could study and reflect upon them. His report of the 1761 argument of James Otis in the superior court of Massachusetts as to the legality of Writs of Assistance is a good example. On the other hand, John Quincy?s father which is John Adams did not push him to become a minister. Moreover, John Adams brought young Adams to France (1778 ? 1779) and to the Netherlands (1780 ? 1782) to acquire his early education at institutions at the University of Leiden. John Adams let his son explored the world more than his own father did. At age fourteen, young Adams accompanied Francis Dana on a mission to St. Petersburg, Russia, to gain recognition to the new republic. He also spent time in Finland, Sweden, Den...
Thomas Hancock lived in Hancock Manor in Boston where he had no children he was a privateer and a merchant. John enrolled in Harvard University, received his bachelor’s...
In the Revolutionary period, John Adams was a leader who was one of the founding fathers and advocate for the independence of America. He was a member of the Continental Congress. During the Revolutionary war, Adams served in France and Holland as a diplomatic role. After George Washington was elected as the President, he was put under Washington as the first Vice President. After Washington’s presidency, Adams, who was apart of the Federalists, got elected as President on March 4th, 1797 with Thomas Jefferson, his friend and rival as Vice President. John Adams was well known for his aloofness, and demonstrated passionate patriotism for America, he was also an independent man who did not care for the opinion of the public; except his wife
Although his merchant father lack a gentleman education he had a knack for making money. Samuel adams also signed the Declaration of Independence. He married a women by the name of Elizabeth Checkley in 1749 unfortunately she died in 1757. A couple of years later Samuel Adams married Elizabeth Wells in 1764. It is a little strange two women both with the name Elizabeth I think. Samuel adams was was lieutenant governor and governor of Massachusetts. John Adams his second cousin was the second president of the United States. Samuel Adams took an active and influential part in local politics. Samuel Adams played an important part in instigating the Stamp Act. His influence was only second to James Otis, the lawyer and politician who gained prominence by his resistance to to the revenue
John Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He went to Harvard to study to become a pastor, but instead decided to become a lawyer. Later he would be a delegate from Massachusetts to both the first and second continental congress. He would also venture to several European countries including Holland, Britain and France, all for diplomatic purposes. When the Constitution was written in 1787, it was decided that Adam...
John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and died on July 4, 1826. He was the second president of the United States. He served from 1797 to 1801. Earlier, he served as the first vice president of the United States. John Adams was a statesman, a diplomat, and a leading advocate of American independence from Great Britain. He was an Enlightenment political theorist who promoted republicanism. He also promoted a strong central government and wrote about his seminal ideas.
John Adams was born on October 30, 1725 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on the family farm. He was the older of two younger brothers, Peter and Elihu. John was named after his father John Adams Sr. His father was said to be the town's tax collector, selectman, constable and lieutenant of the militia. John Adams Sr. was the younger Adams’ role model. John’s parents gave him a lot of freedom. It was said that he doing activities outdoors and cared little for school. It is said that John’s stubbornness started at the age of ten when his parents were afraid that he was wasting his exceptional intellect. His father asked him what he was to do with his life and John said that he wanted to be a farmer. The next day his father took him out to the fields and worked him as hard as he could, hoping to teach him a lesson, but that night Adams sr. asked him if he was satisfied being a farmer and little John replied, “I like it very well sir.” Both of his parents were very surprised with his reply.
Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts at the North Parish congregational church (The World of Abigail Adams). She came from a well-rounded family. Her great grandfather was a reverend named John Norton, so religion was an important part of her up bringing. Her father, William Smith was a liberal Congregationalist. Her mother Elizabeth Quincy Smith had four children; two daughters, a son who eventually died from alcoholism and Abigail. Abigail was born as a sickly child. Her mother did not believe that she was healthy enough for schooling so she did not live a usual child’s life. She then met with people who believed she was healthy enough and ready to be taught around the age of 11, and she started to further her education from there. Abigail Adams once said, “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence” (Brainy Quotes). In order to gain wisdom you must work. She learned in her life that things do not come by chance and that in order to receive you must giv...
Samuel Adams may have been the most radical person in American history. He is often called the original radical. At first glance, he appeared as a very disorganized and incompetent man. He often wore the same set of clothes for a few days straight without washing them. With further inspection, one would notice that he is a little more than he appears on the outside. Adams was a well-known American patriot, which was a leader of the resistance to British policy before the American Revolution. Later, he became active in Boston politics, eventually being elected to the legislative body of Massachusetts in 1765 where he assumed leadership of the movement in Massachusetts that advocated independence from Great Britain.
Influential men in the creation of the republic, Adams and Hamilton remained largely absent from each other’s lives besides a brief correspondence from Adams in July 1789 where requested the younger Hamilton allow his son Charles Adams to clerk for him because he wanted to “get him into some office in New York, and should give the Preference to you” but rested on two contingencies, one of which Adams suggested “you may become a Minister of State, or some other Thing better or worse than the Practice of the Bar, but, however, incompatible with it.” This letter underlines two facts; first, Adams held Hamilton in high regard by entrusting his son to him. Second, for Adams, it was apparent that Hamilton was not destined for a career in law and
Influential men in the creation of the republic, Adams and Hamilton remained largely absent from each other’s lives besides a brief correspondence from Adams in July 1789 where requested the younger Hamilton allow his son Charles Adams to clerk for him because he wanted to “get him into some office in New York, and should give the Preference to you” but rested on two contingencies, one of which Adams suggested “you may become a Minister of State, or some other Thing better or worse than the Practice of the Bar, but, however, incompatible with it.” This letter underlines two facts; first, Adams held Hamilton in high regard by entrusting his son to him. Second, for Adams, it was apparent that Hamilton’s future laid in political office, not private