A New Nation Is Born Series: John Adams
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Born: October 30, 1735 in Massachusetts
Died: July 4, 1826 at age 90 in Massachusetts
Party: Federalist
Occupation: Lawyer
John Adams, the son of a farmer, grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts. At age 16 he attended Harvard College and graduated four years later. After graduation, he taught school for a few years while he was deciding on a long term career. He finally decided to become a lawyer and began studying in the law office of James Putnam. At age 23 he was admitted to the bar. At age 29 he married Abigail Smith, and they had six children; one of which was John Quincy Adams who would become the sixth President of the United States.
John Adams’ influence as a leader came from his work as a constitutional lawyer, his thorough knowledge of the law, and his dedication to republicanism.
One of the most famous cases that Adams was associated with was The Boston Massacre in 1770. John Adams defended the British soldiers who had killed five civilians. Six of the soldiers were acquitted, and the two who had fired into the crowd were convicted of manslaughter.
Adams was sent to represent Massachusetts in the first and second Continental Congress. In 1775 Adams nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. From the beginning of his service in Congress, Adams supported permanent separation from Britian.
John Adams wrote in Thoughts on Government “there is no good government but what is republican.” On June 7,1776, Adams seconded the resolution introduced by Richard Henry Lee that “these colonies are, and of a right ought to be, free and independant states.” He was then appointed to a committee with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman to draft a Declaration of Independence.
John Adams served two terms as Vice President to George Washington. Adams played a minor role in politics and was never asked for input on policy or legal issues by President Washington.
Next, John Adams was elected to serve as the second President of the United States. He held the office from 1797-1801. As President, Adams followed George Washington’s examples of republican values and civic virtue. Adams was never implicated in any scandals. He ran for a second term but was defeated by Thomas Jefferson.
After his defeat, Adams returned to a private life of farming. Sixteen months before he died, his son, John Quincy Adams, became the sixth President of the United States. The only other son of a former President to hold that same office is George W. Bush.
On July 4, 1826, John Adams died at his home. A few hours earlier, on that same day, Thomas Jefferson had died as well. This day was the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
