Beech Tree News Network

One of our founding fathers who is often overlooked is John Adams. He did many things to help establish the United States, and I believe it would be beneficial if we looked at an overview of his life.
    John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts. His father, John Adams, Sr., was a farmer and a town councilman. At the age of 16, John Adams earned a scholarship to attend Harvard University. After graduating in 1755, Adams studied law in the office of John Putnam, and in 1758, he earned a Master’s degree and was admitted to the bar.
    After he was admitted to the bar, Adams became involved with the Patriot cause. He was staunchly opposed to the Stamp Act of 1765 and wanted to end it. Adams wrote a response to the Stamp Act entitled “Essay on the Canon and Federal Law,” which was published in the Boston Gazette. Two months later, John Adams publicly denounced the act as invalid in a speech delivered to the governor of Massachusetts and his council.
    1770 was a year of turmoil for Boston, and the Boston massacre frightened the colonists. In a strange move, Adams became the defense attorney for the British soldiers, who killed 5 colonists in the Boston massacre. Although Adams did not support the British, he believed that all men were entitled to a fair trial, and through his work, six of the eight soldiers were acquitted.
    Because of his legal ability, John Adams was selected to the Continental Congress. In May 1776, the Continental Congress approved his resolution that the colonies adopt independent governments. John Adams also served on as many as 90 committees in the young government, and in 1777, he became head of the Board of War and Ordinance, which oversaw the Continental army. John Adams was one of the diplomats that negotiated the Treaty of Paris and continued to arrange commerce treaties after the war.
    John Adams served as Vice President of the United States from 1789-1797. In 1796, He was the Federalist nominee for President and won by a narrow margin. During his presidency, the United States was facing difficulties because of the war between France and Britain. This caused Adams to lose popularity, and he lost the 1800 re-election campaign by a few electoral votes.
    After the Presidency, John Adams lived a quiet life with his wife Abigail on their family farm in Braintree, Massachusetts. He continued to write and correspond with his friends, especially Thomas Jefferson. In fact, both Adams and Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the United States.