His parents were both fond of reading, wrote John and give him a good education. He became the first of his family to go to college when he entered Harvard in 1751. For the next six years he read intensly while he taught school and studied law in Boston. In 1762 he began a fourteen year successful law career. In 1761 he began to think, write and act against British oppression and for the right of colonies to self-government.
There were many causes that led to the American Revolution, some include economic situations, discontent with autocratic rule, and political changes in the British colonies. A major factor in the start of the revolution was the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763) changed the bond between the colonies and Britain, because of the colonists' identities. Thomas Paine (an American colonist born in Britain) published a Political Pamphlet in 1776, which supported the colonist into open rebellion. The excerpt, "Common Sense," Paine emphasized the case for the revolution in straightforward language, where it became clear and direct to understand the meaning of the excerpt. The excerpt itself influenced colonists to take actions for their tolerance from the British and gave them the strength they needed to become unified.
“Common Sense helped ignite the American Revolution” (Bazyar). Paine and America started to rebel against common rules and taxes, to fight for what they believed in. The pamphlet was said to “revive” the cause for America fighting in the war (Davis 56). “Common Sense” was greatly appreciated, and called out all who disagreed with what was said. The pamphlet was first published in January of 1776, but by who?
O, receive the fugitive and prepare in time an asylum for mankind! "(Compton’s Encyclopedia Online 1). Colonists up and down the seaboard read this stirring call to action and George Washington himself said it turned doubt into decision for independence. Patrick Henry was another fearless, eloquent spellbinder who became the spokesman of the southern colonies during the stirring period that led to the Revolution. His words, which expressed the feelings and hopes of the patriots, helped inspire them to make their dreams a reality.
Their need to make peace made them write a petition that tributed a man they deemed despicable. King George III was their enemy, on the contrary after reading the plea one would say he was a “great man” crucial to the colonists. In the king’s lense, The Olive Branch Petition may have seemed as fragility, demonstrating the desperation of the people, he was not amenable to fulfill. In addition, they state they are connected with Britain by unbreakable ties, which is ironic because the sole purpose of fleeing was independence. The Olive Branch Petition was their last endeavor to make truce peacefully; thus, the American Revolution was waged as a war of last resort.
It stirred the colonists to strengthen their resolve, resulting in the first successful anticolonial action in modern history. Little did Paine realize that his writings would set fire to a movement that had seldom if ever been worked out in the Old World: sovereignty of the people and written constitutions, together with effective checks and balances in government. Paine has been described as a professional radical and a revolutionary propagandist without peer. Born in England, he was dismissed as an excise officer while lobbying for higher wages. Impressed by Paine, Benjamin Franklin sponsored Paine's emigration to America in 1774.
Due to Adams’ intelligence and law knowledge, he was chosen by the people of Braintree to write protest against the Stamp Act. At first, he declined the idea but after persuaded by Samuel Adams, a fellow revolutionary, who was also a second cousin of his, John Adams wrote the protests and essays to the Boston newspaper and used it as a forum to fight the Stamp Act. Finally on February 22, 1766, The British House of Commons ended the Stamp Act. His essays were collected and published in 1768 as “A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law”. In 1769, John Hancock, the richest man in Boston was accused of wine smuggling and Adams was his lawyer.
With Benjamin Franklin’s ambition to see one day the glorious English Empire shifted to North America, specifically in Pennsylvania and to get rid of the proprietors, he envisages a single community that will embody Englishmen only. For that reason, Franklin is against massive immigration of Germans and the presence of African slaves which will fade the identity of a perfect English Empire. He becomes more optimistic of his vision when the Crown appoints him in 1753 as a postmaster at Williamsburg. Despite all the failures that he encounters from not passing solutions such as colonial union and the Albany Plan, Franklin still maintains his degree of confidence and loyalty to the mother country. Closer to his dream, he has been selected in 1757 to become a mission to England.
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... ... middle of paper ... ...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.
He proposed George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental troops to bind Virginia more tightly to the cause for independence. He favored the Declaration of Independence, was a member of the drafting committee, and argued eloquently for it. Adams was one of the negotiators who drew up the momentous Treaty of Paris to end the American Revolution. Adams’ diplomatic skills brought him much political fame. Thomas Jefferson, although never effective as a public speaker, won a reputation as a draftsman of resolutions and addresses.