John Adams was a founding father in the United States. He was born in Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1735. He was a lawyer. 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. He helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. After the war, he served as a diplomat in France and the Netherlands. He was appointed to the Court of St. James's in London from 1785 to 1788. He was also a leader in opposition to Townshend Acts (1767).
He wrote extensively about 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. These unpopular law led to Thomas Jefferson's defeat, in 1800.
Adams was instrumental for securing recognition for America in the Netherlands in 1782. He then began negotiating a treaty of commerce with the Netherlands. He was also a member of the committee that wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was also a leader in the cause of independence and was elected to The First Continental Congress.
Adams formed close bonds with Thomas Jefferson in 1780s. The two men exchanged much correspondence as a result of their friendship. 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.
In the 1780s, America was forced to support the European wars. While the Republicans preferred France's republican government, the Federalists supported Britain. The Treaty of Paris finally resolved the conflict.
Adams was a strong critic of Great Britain as a politician. Adams was particularly critical the Stamp Act 1765, which taxed legal documentation in the United States. He considered taxes unfair and oppressive. He opposed the Townshend Acts of1767 that imposed tariffs upon imported 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, a lawyer, was instrumental in the development of the Constitution of the United States. His contributions to the American political system were primarily through his involvement in the Declaration of Independence, and the creation 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 remarkable political philosopher.