Who Was John Adams?

       John Adams was second President of the United States. He was born at Braintree, Mass., October 10, 1735 (O. S.). He graduated at Harvard at the age of twenty, and had serious intentions of entering the ministry; but his opposition to the Calvinistic theology induced him to seek another profession. He studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1758, and obtained an extensive practice. Early in life he advocated the rights of the American colonies with ability and enthusiasm, and was soon recognized as the chief legal adviser of his party. A series of resolutions offered by him in a meeting at Braintree in reference to the Stamp Act were adopted by forty other towns in the State, and he was retained, with others, as counsel by the people of Boston in their effort to procure from the Governor and Council an order to reopen the courts of law. In order to withdraw him from the cause of the colonists, he was offered, in 1768, the position of advocate-general, which he refused to accept. Drawn at first to the defense of the popular cause as a lawyer, he became one of the most intrepid leaders of the patriots. At the same time, he exhibited moderation on many important occasions. He was elected, in 1770, to the Legislature of Massachusetts, and was chosen as one of the five delegates from that State to the First Continental Congress, which assembled in Philadelphia in the autumn of 1774. He was re-elected in 1776. While a member of that body he used his pen vigorously in support and defense of the cause of the patriots, and also rendered eminent services as an orator and debater. On the 11th of June, 1776, he was appointed, with Jefferson, Franklin, Sherman, and Livingston, to prepare a declaration of independence. In the debate which followed he took a very prominent part. "John Adams,'' said Jefferson, "was the ablest advocate and champion of independence on the floor of the House. He was the Colossus of that Congress." While a member of that body he acted as chairman of twenty-five committees, and also served as President of the Board of War, which was appointed in 1776. Sent as a Commissioner to France in 1777, he was afterward associated with Franklin, Jay, and Laurens to negotiate a treaty with England. In this they succeeded. A treaty of peace between that country and America was signed in November, 1782.

       Adams subsequently served as Minister to England for three years, during which time his Defense of the American Constitution appeared. He became Vice-President of the United States in 1789, and was a zealous supporter of the policy of Washington and of the principles of the Federalists. In 1796 he was nominated for the Presidency by that party, and was elected over Thomas Jefferson, the Republican Candidate, who, having received the next highest number of votes, became, as the law then existed, Vice-President. Adams retained the Cabinet of Washington, although he was not on good terms with two members of it, Timothy Pickering and Oliver Wolcott. Apprehensions of a war with France having caused the American Government, in 1798, to organize a new army. Washington was made general-in-chief. He succeeded, in opposition to the wishes of Adams, in having the next highest command conferred on Alexander Hamilton. Mr. Adams soon after nominated one Murray as Minister to the French Republic without consulting any member of his Cabinet. By this act he alienated many of his warmest friends and opened the way for other measures which rendered his administration very unpopular. The feelings of hostility were increased against him by the passage of the ''Alien and Sedition Laws" He was again nominated for President in 1800, but was defeated by Jefferson. He retired to private life, disliked and censured by both Federalists and Republicans. As time has passed on, however, the recollection of his rare talents, lofty patriotism, and great services rendered to his country when the cause of liberty was in imminent danger, have reinstated him in the public esteem, and caused him to be regarded as one of the greatest and most patriotic of the founders of American independence. He died July 4, 1826. 

This four minutes about The Declaration of Independence,

taken from The HBO special. John Adams address.

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