John Hancock's Accomplishments: A Powerful Patriot

1219 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Economic issues of the american revolution

Courageous. Willing. Patriot. These meaningful words define who John Hancock was to America. Born on January 23, 1737, Hancock demonstrated leadership qualities since youth. He played a major role in the American Revolution, as a leading figure, Massachusetts, as a successful governor. Hancock was a true patriot, through his courageous acts of defiance to Britain, pooling his funds to support the Revolution, and leading the Second Continental Congress. Hancock risked his life and the welfare of the people he loved to stand up for his, and the colonist’s freedoms and natural rights they deserved. John Hancock was a people’s man, adored by everyone in Massachusetts, and most of The Second Continental Congress; which allowed him to succeed greatly at leading the revolution.

John Hancock was raised in present day Quincy, Massachusetts. Born from a clergyman father, who passed away early in Hancock’s youth, had his wealthy uncle fostered the young orphan. At adolescence, he was sent to Harvard to for a prestige education, and after graduating the university, he traveled overseas to Britain to learn business. In the year 1764, John Hancock inherited his uncle’s business, “Thomas Hancock and Company,” after his uncle passed away. When John Hancock became an affluent merchant in all of New England, he did not realize that this would unfold an important occurrence that sparked his devoted, powerful patriotism. During the time when the Stamp Act was placed, his workers smuggled wine off of one of his cargo ships, The Liberty, which violated the law. Hancock was blamed for his workers doing, which lead to the British Government who attempted to seize his boat. He hired the infamous lawyer John Adams to defend him in court, although, the ...

... middle of paper ...

...hat the King of Britain and Thomas Gage placed rewards for his death. Instead of cowering from the British, he kept performing more actions which gave him even a larger reward for his imprisonment or death. His strong devotion to the Revolution, his expansive resources he obtained, his enormous heart, his powerful patriotism to America, and his outstanding leadership, are the main reasons why people today still learn and know about John Hancock.

Works Cited

Gaines, Ann Graham. ""Helping to Build a Nation"" Ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Revolutionary War Leaders. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2000. N. pag. American History Online. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

“John Hancock." 2014. The Biography Channel website. Jan 08 2014, 05:38

Wilson, Richard L. "Hancock, John." American History Online. Facts On File News Services, 2002. Web. 19 Dec. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Book report

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1776, David McCullough gives a vivid portrayal of the Continental Army from October 1775 through January 1777, with sharp focus on the leadership of America’s greatest hero, George Washington. McCullough’s thesis is that had not the right man (George Washington) been leading the Continental Army in 1776, the American Revolution would have resulted in a vastly different outcome. He supports his argument with a critical analysis of Washington’s leadership during the period from the Siege of Boston, through the disastrous defense of New York City, the desperate yet, well ordered retreat through New Jersey against overwhelming odds, and concludes with the inspiring victories of Trenton and Princeton. By keeping his army intact and persevering through 1776, Washington demonstrated to the British Army that the Continental Army was not simply a gang of rabble, but a viable fighting force. Additionally, Mr. McCullough supports his premise that the key to the survival of the American Revolution was not in the defense of Boston, New York City, or any other vital terrain, but rather the survival of the Continental Army itself. A masterful piece of history, 1776 is not a dry retelling of the Revolutionary War, but a compelling character study of George Washington, as well as his key lieutenants, and his British adversaries, the most powerful Army in the 18th Century world. When I read this book, I went from a casual understanding of the hero George Washington to a more specific understanding of why Washington was quite literally the exact right man at the exact right place and time to enable the birth of the United States.

    Read More

  • John Adams Dbq Essay

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • George Washington Classical Sun Tzu Strategist and Master in the Art of War

    1772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Washington's selection to be the leader of the Continental Army was the wisest choice that the newly formed Continental Congress could have made. Washington's selection as Commander of the Continental Army did more to win the Revolutionary war than any other decision made during the conflict. His personal character epitomizes perfectly the five traits required in a successful general: wisdom, sincerity, humanity, courage, and strictness. (Sun Tzu p. 65) These five crucial traits will become apparent and Washington's strategy to win the War of Independence is elaborated on further

    Read More

  • Gordon Wood’s Radicalism of the American Revolution

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gordon S. Wood. The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage; Reprint edition. March 2, 1993

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Disquisition of Government by John Calhoun

    3726 Words  | 8 Pages

    Eibling, Harold H., et al., eds. History of Our United States. 2nd edition. River Forest, Ill: Laidlaw Brothers, 1968.

    Read More

  • Revolutionary War Dbq

    1561 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the War for American Independence, 78 men were commissioned as general officers into the Continental Army by the Continental Congress. Many of these generals commanded troops with differing levels of competence and success. George Washington is typically seen as most important general, however throughout the war a number of his subordinates were able to distinguish themselves amongst their peers. One such general was Nathanael Greene. At the end of the Revolutionary War, Greene would become Washington’s most important subordinate, as demonstrated by Edward Lengel’s assessment of Greene as “the youngest and most capable of Washington’s generals.” Washington and Greene developed a strong, positive and close relationship between themselves. Greene began his life in the military after having been raised a Quaker. With limited access to literature and knowledge in his younger years, Greene became an avid reader which equipped him with the knowledge necessary to excel as a general during the war. Through his devoted study of military operations, firsthand experience and natural abilities as a soldier, Greene became an excellent military commander. He would become known for his successful southern campaign, during which, he loosened British control of the South and helped lead the war to its climax at Yorktown. Throughout the war, he was involved in a number high profile battles where he built a reputation of being an elite strategist who also understood unconventional warfare, logistics, and the importance of military-civil affairs and had a natural political/social acumen. The thesis of this paper is that Greene’s proven reputation of being a soldier, strategist and statesman would cause him to become the second greates...

    Read More

  • John Hope Franklin and His Impact on History

    3261 Words  | 7 Pages

    African or black history was not a study that was done by many until the last century. Studying African Americans accurately as part of American History was an even newer field of history. John Hope Franklin’s obituary calls him, “the scholar who helped create the field of African-American history and dominated it for nearly six decades.” He would call himself an historian of the American South.

    Read More

  • Marquis de Lafayette

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Marquis de Lafayette is best remembered for the part he played in the American War of Independence. He contributed in helping the Americans gain free control over the colonies by breaking away from British home rule. For sixty years he fought with consistency and insight for political ideals and social reforms that have dominated the history of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hence, Lafayette can be attributed to the spreading of liberty and freedom throughout America and France. Therefore, he is viewed as a symbol of liberalism in a once absolutist world.

    Read More

  • The American Revolution Was NOT Justified

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... Bobrick, Benson. Fight for Freedom: The American Revolutionary War. New York: Atheneum, 2004. Print.

    Read More

  • Alexander Hamilton As A Founding Father Of The United States

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamilton exemplified heroism and bravery throughout his whole life not spending a second dwelling upon his hardships, but to fight for his country and stand up for what he believes in. Hamilton influences our world in many ways today and without him and his accomplishments I don’t know where we would be in our world today. Alexander Hamilton was a fighter and an overall great man of intelligence and

    Read More

  • John Quincy Adams

    884 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Quincy Adams was a major influence in the history of the United States. John Quincy took part in more important events, and held more important positions than any person in United States history. Some of the important positions he held were he was American Ministers to four different European Countries (Hague, Prussia, Russia and England), a State Senator representing Massachusetts, peace negotiator to England, a member of the House of Representatives, Secretary of the State, and President of the United States. John Quincy followed in the footsteps of his father John Adams, when he became President of the United States, but both father and son failed to win their second term as President. Although he had many successes he viewed himself as a disappointment. He did have many accomplishments during his career, but he also had a few downfalls and failures during his career. John Quincy was not the most liked person in the country, but he stood up for what he thought and believed in.

    Read More

  • Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture, Letter to the Directory

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    Williams, Kevin. "Historical Text Archive: Electronic History Resources, Online since 1990." Historical Text Archive: Electronic History Resources, Online since 1990. Donald J. Mabry / The Historical Text Archive, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .

    Read More

  • William Bradford

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Bradford is the epitome of somebody who never intended to become the person he became, never seeking out leadership, or fame, he just wanted to help his fellow man live a better life of religious freedom. However, once he did find himself in the role of leader, he is able to begin turning a few dozen men and their families from scared, sick, and unprepared, immigrants into vibrant, self-supporting compatriots, who together began rising a new country.

    Read More

  • The Common Man’s Role in the American Revolution

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    If you live in the United States, you probably are aware of the American Revolution. Most educated adults in America can name at least on hero of pre-Revolutionary America such as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Paul Revere and Thomas Jefferson . But to what extent did these few men, credited with our freedom, actually participate in events that lead up to the revolution? How many countless men remained unnamed and unnoticed despite the work they put into the Revolution? These men have often been overlooked in textbooks, despite the fact most of the freedoms we have now are derived from their brave actions. But why did these men get the wheels of a revolution turning? What was the reason they had for their actions, the very ones that led America and Great Britain to begin a fight not only for freedom, but for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

    Read More

  • John Lennon Helped Shape 1960s America

    1726 Words  | 4 Pages

    John continued to fight for peace and change throughout the world. A famous poster ...

    Read More

More about John Hancock's Accomplishments: A Powerful Patriot

Open Document