John Adams is the founder father of the United States. Born in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735 he was both a lawyer and diplomat. He was a delegate for the Continental Congress and helped to defend British soldiers accused in the Boston Massacre.
Adams, who was a lawyer by trade, was a strong supporter of 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 appointed to Court of St. James's London from 1785-1788. He was also a leader in opposition to Townshend Acts (1767).
He wrote extensively about The First Amendment. He was a staunch enemy of slavery. He faced immediate resistance from Republican strongholds when he implemented antislavery measures during his presidency. These unpopular laws led to Thomas Jefferson's defeat in 1800.
In 1782, Adams was instrumental in securing recognition for the United States in the Netherlands. Adams then started negotiating a treaty on commerce with the Netherlands. He was also a member of a committee that drafted 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 and Thomas Jefferson formed close friendships in the 1780s. Their friendship led to a great deal of correspondence between the two men. Their correspondence spanned fourteen years, and continued throughout their lives. They were also able and willing to exchange drafts of several documents including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and others.
The United States was under pressure in the 1780s to join the European wars. While the Republicans preferred France's republican government, the Federalists supported Britain. In the end, the conflict was resolved with the Treaty of Paris.
Adams was a fierce critic of Great Britain as an politician. Adams was particularly critical regarding the Stamp Act, 1765, that taxed legal documents within the United States. He considered the taxes oppressive and unfair. He opposed the Townshend Acts of1767 that imposed tariffs upon imported goods.
Adams refused to agree to these terms when the French foreign minister demanded a large amount of bribe. The XYZ Affair was a scandal that boosted Adams' popularity. Nevertheless, he returned to Europe in November 1779 with his sons.
As a lawyer, Adams was influential in developing the constitutional government of the United States. His important contributions to American political systems were the Declaration of Independence (and 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.
While John Adams was a fervent and dedicated patriot, he was also an intelligent and well-learned individual. He was also an outstanding political philosopher.