John Adams was the founding father of America. 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. Adams was instrumental in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. He served in France and the Netherlands as a diplomat after the war. From 1785 to 1788, he was appointed to the Court of St. James's at London. He was also a leading force in the opposition to the Townshend Acts of 1767.
He wrote extensively concerning the First Amendment. He was a strong opponent to slavery. His antislavery laws during his presidency were immediately resisted by Republican strongholds. These unpopular laws were a contributing factor to Thomas Jefferson's defeat of him in 1800.
Adams was instrumental for securing recognition for America in the Netherlands in 1782. 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. In addition to his diplomatic work, he was elected to the First Continental Congress, where he was a leading voice for independence.
Adams and Thomas Jefferson formed close friendships in the 1780s. The two men exchanged much correspondence as a result of their friendship. Their correspondence was continuous throughout their lives, lasting fourteen years. They were also able and willing to exchange drafts of several documents including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and others.
In the 1780s, the United States faced pressure to take sides in the wars raging in Europe. While the Republicans favored France's republican government and the Federalists supported Britain, they sympathized with the British. In the end, the conflict was resolved with the Treaty of Paris.
As a politician, Adams was a vigorous critic of Great Britain. Adams was especially critical of the Stamp Act (1765), which taxed legal documents in America. He believed that the taxes were oppressive and unfair. In addition, he opposed the Townshend Acts of 1767, which levied tariffs on imported goods.
Adams refused to pay the terms of a large bribe demanded by French foreign minister. This scandal was later known as the XYZ Affair. It helped to boost Adams' popularity. He returned to Europe with the rest of his family in November 1779.
Adams, a lawyer, was instrumental in the development of the Constitution 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 helped to negotiate a treaty for peace with 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 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.