John Adams is the founder father of the United States. Born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735, he was a lawyer and a diplomat. He was a delegate of the Continental Congress, and he defended British soldiers in the Boston Massacre.
Adams was a lawyer who stood up for independence for the colonies. He was instrumental at the drafting of The Declaration of Independence. After the war, he was a diplomat for France and the Netherlands. He was elected to the Court of St. James's London between 1785 and 1788. He was also a leader in opposition to Townshend Acts (1767).
He wrote extensively about The First Amendment. He was a fierce opponent of slavery. The antislavery laws he enacted during his presidency met with immediate resistance in Republican strongholds. These unpopular laws were a contributing factor to Thomas Jefferson's defeat of him in 1800.
Adams was instrumental to securing recognition in the Netherlands for the United States of America in 1782. He then began negotiating a treaty of commerce with the Netherlands. He was also part of the committee that drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Apart from his diplomatic work, he was elected as a member of the First Continental Congress. He was a prominent voice for independence.
Adams formed close bonds with Thomas Jefferson in 1780s. Their friendship resulted in much correspondence between them. Their correspondence lasted 14 years and continued throughout the rest of their lives. They were also capable of exchanging drafts of Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or other documents.
In the 1780s America was faced with pressure to be a part of the Europe wars. Although the Republicans supported France's republican government (the Federalists sided with Britain), The Treaty of Paris resolved the conflict.
Adams was a strong critic of Great Britain as a politician. Adams was especially critical of the Stamp Act (1765), which taxed legal documents in America. He considered taxes unfair and oppressive. In addition, he opposed the Townshend Acts of 1767, which levied tariffs on imported goods.
Adams refused to take a large bribe in exchange for the French foreign ministry's approval. This scandal was later known as the XYZ Affair. It helped to boost Adams' popularity. He did return to Europe, however, in November 1779, with his three sons.
Adams was a prominent lawyer who helped to develop the constitution of the United States. His important contributions to American political systems were the Declaration of Independence (and the Bill of Rights). He also helped negotiate a treaty of peace with Great Britain. He was a key player in the American political history, and was among the most principled and influential Americans during the late eighteenth-century.
John Adams was a committed patriot who was passionate and dedicated, but he was also intelligent and well-learned. He was also a remarkable political philosopher.