John Adams was the founding father of America. He was born in Massachusetts Bay Colony 1735 and was a lawyer, diplomat, and lawyer. He was a delegate for the Continental Congress and helped to defend British soldiers accused in the Boston Massacre.
As a lawyer, Adams was a staunch advocate of independence for the colonies. He helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. He was a diplomat in France, the Netherlands and France after the war. From 1785 to 1788, he was appointed to the Court of St. James's at London. He was also a leader in opposition to Townshend Acts (1767).
He wrote extensively about The First Amendment. He was a staunch opponent to slavery. His antislavery laws during his presidency were immediately resisted by Republican strongholds. These unpopular laws contributed to his defeat by Thomas Jefferson in 1800.
Adams played a key role in 1782 in securing the recognition of the United States in The Netherlands. He began negotiations with the Netherlands to establish a trade treaty. He was also an active member of the committee responsible for drafting 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 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 were also able exchange drafts of various documents, including the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
In the 1780s, America was forced to support the European wars. The Republicans supported the republican government of France but the Federalists sympathized more with Britain. In the end, the conflict was resolved with the Treaty of Paris.
Adams was a strong critic of Great Britain as a politician. He was particularly critical of the Stamp Act of 1765, which taxed legal documents in the United States. He considered the taxes oppressive and unfair. 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. Nevertheless, he returned to Europe in November 1779 with his sons.
Adams, as a lawyer was influential in the creation of the United States Constitution. 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 a prominent player in the United States' political history and was one of America's most principled leaders of the late eighteenth Century.
John Adams was a fierce patriot and an ardent believer in the cause of freedom, but he also was intelligent and well-educated. He was also a great political philosopher.