John Adams by Jessie When John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, he had no idea what he would encounter in his future. Adams lived in Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy) and was older than his three brothers. He went to "dame" school and later went to the Free Latin School. Adams was the first of his family to go to college in 1751. When he entered Harvard College, he intended to be a minister, but by the time he graduated, he had given up the idea. Adams taught school until he made up his mind about the future. After a year of teaching he began to study law under James Putnam, the town's leading lawyer. He too became a great lawyer. Adams kept on teaching and spent after school hours in Putnam's office. When Adams was 29, he married the minister's daughter, Abigail Smith. They had five children: Abigail, John Qunicy, Susanna, Charles, and Thomas. John Adams became one of America's most important leaders in America's struggle to freedom. In 1761, Adams began to think, write, and act against the British law. Then he and many others believed America should break away from Britain. Adam's first office that he held came when he was appointed one of the town attorneys to argue the legality of the Stamp Act. He also defended a British officer and seven enlisted men who fired on a rioting Boston mob, soon to be known as the Boston Massacre. John Adams also helped draft the Declaration of Independence which started the Revolutionary War. Many battles led to the victory of the war in 1783. For two years, Adams helped Franklin and Jefferson negotiate treaties for friendship and commerce with a lot of foreign powers. When he returned to the United States in 1788, Adams was greeted by countrymen as one of the heroes of independence and was elected Vice President. He later became President in 1797. Adams died in 1826.The Boston Massacre On March 5, 1770, friction between Britain and townspeople flamed into violence at the Boston Massacre when the soldiers fired into a mob, killing five men and wounding several others. Word of the fight spread through the colonies making them angrier than ever before. Captain Preston and his soldiers were arrested and most of the people in Boston quickly decided the English were guilty of murder and demanded the death penalty. John Adams agreed to defend them and proved the Boston newspapers were wrong. The Boston newspapers said Captain Preston told his men to fire at the crowd but one citizen, that saw the event, said the crowd was yelling, "Kill Them! Kill Them!" before the English fired. Captain Preston and his men were accused of manslaughter, not murder.The Stamp Act After the French and Indian War, England started putting taxes on the colonists. That led to the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act called for American businesses to buy stamps for certain products. Stamps were to be placed on newspapers, playing cards, and dice. The cost of stamps would be passed on to the buyers. Works CitedAdams, John CD-ROM. Danbury, CT.: Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 1999"Adams, John" Student Discovery Encyclopedia 2000ed., 1, 21-22America Past and Present Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1983"John Adams, 2nd President of the United States" Compton's Encyclopedia 1965ed., 1, 16-19
by Jessie
When John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, he had no idea what he would encounter in his future.
Adams lived in Braintree, Massachusetts (now Quincy) and was older than his three brothers. He went to "dame" school and later went to the Free Latin School. Adams was the first of his family to go to college in 1751. When he entered Harvard College, he intended to be a minister, but by the time he graduated, he had given up the idea.
Adams taught school until he made up his mind about the future. After a year of teaching he began to study law under James Putnam, the town's leading lawyer. He too became a great lawyer. Adams kept on teaching and spent after school hours in Putnam's office.
When Adams was 29, he married the minister's daughter, Abigail Smith. They had five children: Abigail, John Qunicy, Susanna, Charles, and Thomas.
John Adams became one of America's most important leaders in America's struggle to freedom. In 1761, Adams began to think, write, and act against the British law. Then he and many others believed America should break away from Britain.
Adam's first office that he held came when he was appointed one of the town attorneys to argue the legality of the Stamp Act. He also defended a British officer and seven enlisted men who fired on a rioting Boston mob, soon to be known as the Boston Massacre. John Adams also helped draft the Declaration of Independence which started the Revolutionary War. Many battles led to the victory of the war in 1783.
For two years, Adams helped Franklin and Jefferson negotiate treaties for friendship and commerce with a lot of foreign powers. When he returned to the United States in 1788, Adams was greeted by countrymen as one of the heroes of independence and was elected Vice President. He later became President in 1797.
Adams died in 1826.
The Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770, friction between Britain and townspeople flamed into violence at the Boston Massacre when the soldiers fired into a mob, killing five men and wounding several others.
Word of the fight spread through the colonies making them angrier than ever before. Captain Preston and his soldiers were arrested and most of the people in Boston quickly decided the English were guilty of murder and demanded the death penalty.
John Adams agreed to defend them and proved the Boston newspapers were wrong. The Boston newspapers said Captain Preston told his men to fire at the crowd but one citizen, that saw the event, said the crowd was yelling, "Kill Them! Kill Them!" before the English fired. Captain Preston and his men were accused of manslaughter, not murder.
The Stamp Act
After the French and Indian War, England started putting taxes on the colonists. That led to the Stamp Act.
The Stamp Act called for American businesses to buy stamps for certain products. Stamps were to be placed on newspapers, playing cards, and dice. The cost of stamps would be passed on to the buyers.
Works Cited
Adams, John CD-ROM. Danbury, CT.: Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. 1999
"Adams, John" Student Discovery Encyclopedia 2000ed., 1, 21-22
America Past and Present Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1983
"John Adams, 2nd President of the United States" Compton's Encyclopedia 1965ed., 1, 16-19