John Adams was a founding father of the United States. He was born in Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1735. He was a lawyer as well as a diplomat. He was a delegate to Continental Congress and defended British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.
Adams, a lawyer and a strong advocate for independence for the colonies was also a staunch supporter of that cause. Adams was instrumental in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. He was a diplomat in France, the Netherlands and France after the war. He was appointed to Court of St. James's London from 1785-1788. He was also an opposition leader to the Townshend Acts 1767.
He wrote extensively on the First Amendment. He was a staunch opponent of slavery. He faced immediate resistance from Republican strongholds when he implemented antislavery measures during his presidency. His defeat by Thomas Jefferson, 1800, was due to these unpopular laws.
Adams was instrumental to securing recognition in the Netherlands for the United States of America in 1782. He began negotiations with the Netherlands to establish a trade treaty. He was also part of the committee that drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. Aside from his diplomatic work he was also elected to the First Continental Congress where he was a leading voice in support of independence.
Adams developed close relationships with Thomas Jefferson during the 1780s. They maintained a close friendship that resulted in a lot of correspondence. Their correspondence went on for fourteen years and continued all their lives. They also exchanged drafts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The United States was under pressure in the 1780s to join the European wars. The Republicans supported the republican government of France but the Federalists sympathized more with Britain. The Treaty of Paris was ultimately able to resolve the conflict.
Adams was a passionate critic of Great Britain in his capacity as a politician. Adams was particularly critical regarding the Stamp Act, 1765, that taxed legal documents within the United States. He considered taxes unfair and oppressive. Additionally, he was against the Townshend Acts of1767 (which imposed tariffs to import goods).
The French foreign minister demanded a large bribe from Adams, but he refused to deal on these terms. This scandal, known as "XYZ Affair", boosted Adams popularity. He did return to Europe, however, in November 1779, with his three sons.
As a lawyer, Adams was influential in developing the constitutional government of the United States. His key contributions to the American political development were his participation in the Declaration of Independence and development of The Bill of Rights. He also helped to negotiate a peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain. He was an important player in American political history and one of the most principled, influential Americans of late 18th century.
John Adams was a passionate patriot and a dedicated patriot. However, he was also a smart and educated individual. He was also an outstanding political philosopher.