John Adams was a founding father of the United States. He was born in Massachusetts Bay Colony on 1735. He was a lawyer. He served as a delegate in the Continental Congress and represented British soldiers who were charged with the Boston Massacre.
As a lawyer, Adams was a staunch advocate of independence for the colonies. He was instrumental at the drafting of The Declaration of Independence. He was a diplomat in France, the Netherlands and France after the war. 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 regarding the First Amendment. He was a fierce opponent of slavery. The antislavery laws he enacted during his presidency met with immediate resistance in Republican strongholds. His defeat by Thomas Jefferson, 1800, was due to these unpopular laws.
Adams was instrumental in securing recognition of the United States by the Netherlands in 1782. He began to negotiate with the Netherlands a treaty in commerce. He was also a member of a committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. In addition to his diplomatic work, he was elected to the First Continental Congress, where he was a leading voice for independence.
In the 1780s, Adams formed close ties with Thomas Jefferson. They maintained a close friendship that resulted in a lot of correspondence. Their correspondence lasted fourteen years and was continued throughout their lives. They were also able to exchange drafts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other documents.
In the 1780s, America was forced to support the European wars. Although the Republicans favored the republican government in France, the Federalists sympathized with Britain. In the end, the conflict was resolved with the Treaty of Paris.
Adams was a passionate critic of Great Britain in his capacity as a politician. He was especially critical about the Stamp Act of 1765 which taxed legal papers in the United States. He considered the taxes oppressive and unfair. He was also against the Townshend Acts of1767 which imposed tariffs for imported goods.
Adams refused to pay the terms of a large bribe demanded by French foreign minister. This scandal was known as the XYZ Affair and it helped boost his popularity. Nevertheless, he returned to Europe in November 1779 with his sons.
Adams was an influential lawyer in the development and implementation of the United States' constitutional government. His major contributions to American politics were through the Declaration of Independence as well as the development of Bill of Rights. He helped to negotiate a treaty for peace with Great Britain. He was a significant player in the history of American politics and was one the most principled Americans of the late 18th century.
John Adams was a dedicated patriot but also an intelligent, well-learned man. He also was a remarkable political philosopher.