Preview

John Adam

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
792 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
John Adam
Early Life John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. His father, John Adams Sr., was a farmer, a Congregationalist deacon and a town councilman, and was a direct descendant of Henry Adams, a Puritan who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. His mother, Susanna Boylston Adams, was a descendant of the Boylston of Brookline, a prominent family in colonial Massachusetts.
At age 16, Adams earned a scholarship to attend Harvard University, where he developed an interest in law, despite his father's wish for him to enter the ministry. After graduating in 1755, at age 20, Adams studied law in the office of John Putnam, a prominent lawyer. In 1758, he earned a master's degree from Harvard and was admitted to the bar.
Political Career Adams quickly became identified with the patriot cause, initially as the result of his opposition to the Stamp Act of 1765. He wrote a response to the imposition of the act by British Parliament titled "Essay on the Canon and Feudal Law," which was published as a series of four articles in the Boston Gazette. In it, Adams argued that the Stamp Act deprived American colonists of the basic rights to be taxed by consent and to be tried by a jury of peers. Two months later Adams also publicly denounced the act as invalid in a speech delivered to the Massachusetts governor and his council. In 1770 Adams agreed to represent the British soldiers on trial for killing five civilians in what became known as the Boston Massacre. He justified defending the soldiers on the grounds that the facts of a case were more important to him than the passionate inclinations of the people. He believed that every person deserved a defense, and he took the case without hesitation. During the trial Adams presented evidence that suggested blame also lay with the mob that had gathered, and that the first soldier who fired upon the crowd was simply responding the way anyone would when faced with a similar

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Jay was born into a wealthy family on December 12th, 1745 in New York City. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and was a very successful man. He strived for America’s Independence and was always trying to better the nation. In 1774 he married the daughter of New Jersey governor, Sarah Livingston. Having marrying her, Jay gained political connections to a colonial family.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Adams was the only lawyer in Boston to take on the defense case of the British troops for the Boston Massacre. Adams agrees to take on the case, despite its unpopularity, because he believes that all men were entitled to a fair trial and deserved equal justice. He also has a position in Boston’s legislature as motivation, which is not shown in the film. We don’t get to see the rest of the defense team in the docudrama either; Josiah Quincy is left out. All accused men receive their own individual trial. All but two soldiers are acquitted; Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Kilroy are charged with manslaughter. Adams wins the case for his client and is elected to a higher position in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.…

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Still, however, in 1770, the colonists were continuing to show loyalty to the king, (document C). By this time, one main question arose in the colonial mind: Which body of government, the colonial legislature, or the British Parliament, was the supreme source of authority? Although loyalty to King George III was taught in schools, colonists began to question his authority, especially after the Boston Massacre, on March 5, 1770. The incident aroused much questioning and hatred towards the British soldiers, known as 'lobster backs' who were quartered in Boston. By 1772, a Boston town meeting responded to the Quartering Act, (document D), stating their dissatisfaction with it, and that it was an unconstitutional law. America saw itself as having its own constitution, and that it was their right to disobey any laws that went against it. This type of relationship became more and more clear as time went by, however loyalty to the king remained. Then, by July of 1774, the Intolerable Acts had taken effect, closing down Boston's port to trade, and affecting the trial process in America. As a result, the Bostonians became very angry at parliament, and friction became even more intense. Thomas Jefferson responded blatantly to it, saying that Parliament had finally gone too far when it disallowed Boston to trade. He then turned to the king, as the last hope, saying that it was the king's duty to protect them, (document…

    • 1377 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Adams is currently running for president. John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts. When Adam was 16, he had earned a scholarship to attend Harvard University. After four years, Adams graduated and studied law in the office of James Putnam, a well-known lawyer. In 1758, he earned a master's degree from Harvard. His father wanted him to do ministry, but he worked hard and got what he wanted. He is an ideal candidate for this election.…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1762, Ellsworth transfered to the college of New Jersey (later Princeton). There, he studied law, and that was also where he found his fit! Four years later, he got chosen and was admitted to the bar in 1777. The next year, he got happily married to Abagail Wolcott. In 1777, he became Connecticut’s State Attorney, of Hartford County.…

    • 416 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the story "John Adams and the Coming of the Revolution”, author David McCullough discusses how John Adams was asked to defend the British soldiers in court of the soldier’s accusation of man slaughter, following the Boston Massacre. Being such a problematic case that could ruin his reputation, John Adams accepted to defend the soldiers because of his experience in difficult cases, and his strong principles and beliefs. John Adam’s reputation did not even tarnish because of how skillfully he handled the case gaining the respect of the people of Boston.…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767, in Braintree, Massachusetts. He is the oldest son of all the children that John Adams, the second United States President, and Abigail Adams had. He traveled to France with his father at the age of 10. He received training in the diplomatic corps and went to school when he was 14 years old. Adams accompanied diplomat Francis Dana to Russia, serving as his secretary and translator in the year of 1781. He then traveled to Paris as his father’s secretary, debating the Treaty of Paris in 1783. At the same time, he attended school in Europe and became really fluent with French, Dutch, and German. He returned home and entered Harvard College in 1785 and graduated in 1787.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In his early years, Jay was considered to have uncommon intellectual ability. He was educated by private tutors. Later in the late summer of 1760, Jay entered King’s College, now known as Columbia University. He graduated in 1764 and became a law clerk in the office of Benjamin Kissam. In 1768, Jay was admitted to the New York Bar., where…

    • 1663 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Stamp Act of 1765 was passed by the parliament basically to raise revenue. That led to new taxes being imposed on all American colonists. The Townshend Acts of 1767 was passed by the parliament to impose duties on the colonies. The Colonists were becoming more n more enraged. Then On March 5, 1770 The Boston “Massacre” happened. This was the big event that united the colonists and makes them go to war against the British. The Boston Massacre was when the British Soldiers began shooting at a crowd of colonists. Many people were dead and more was wounded. The picture shows how the British were violent and killers, it was sent throughout the colonies and it arouses anti-British feelings. {Document 2 & Document…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Having a vegan lifestyle, while having a balanced diet is healthy, and possible. Usually you get your protein from red meat. However, you will need to find another source. Nuts, beans, and seeds are a great source of protein. To gain carbohydrates, you can consume any wheat products like bread and pasta. Foods like nuts, especially cashews, and oils are an excellent source of lipids. Calcium is very important in all diets; however you cannot drink regular milk. Soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, etc. and leafy greens such as collard greens can provide calcium. Sweet potatoes, bananas, and soy beans all contain potassium. You can consume sodium from virtually anything that contains salt. Fiber is another essential item that you need. Peas, lenta, blaca beans, and fruits all contain fiber. Fruits and cocoa beans contain natural sugars. In order to consume any nutrient or vitamins that you do no t get from the foods you eat, you can take pills and vitamins. Therefore, having a vegan lifestyle can still be healthy.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    John

    • 933 Words
    • 3 Pages

    J.D Salinger is one of the most mysterious authors in the world. J.D Salinger is known to be a influential writer and is famous for his, “Catcher in The Rye” novel. He has garnered much attention with that novel. When hitting his peaks of success, J.D Salinger declared reclusion during his career. Which fumed up the curiosity of many readers. Many readers notice that much of his books are based on one central theme. When one’s innocence is lost and is forced to grow up. J.D Salinger used to be a war veteran for World War II, and witnessed several tragedies that forced J.D Salinger out of innocence and into adulthood. In one of his novels, “Nine Stories” J.D Salinger uses these themes continuously throughout the nine stories in the novel.…

    • 933 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Based on the study of my theme I believe that my thesis will be in the novel Life of Pi, Yann Martel uses the protagonist Pi to demonstrate how faith, ritual and one’s will to live save one from the barbaric and carnivorous reality. The key arguments that I will use to prove this thesis is firstly how Pi uses faith to help him survive in on the boat, for example Pi unconsciously makes a ritual for himself daily to follow in order keep himself busy and so that he forgets the notion of time, with this Pi is able to survive because he makes an effort to forget the amount of time that passes. Another argument I can argue is the different symbols of religion are found in the novel, as the colour orange and how it is the symbol for Hinduism. The colour orange was used a lot it the novel, it showed the survival and hope that God will save Pi, for example when he was thrown in the lifeboat by a sailor he was given a lifejacket that was described to be orange and also an orange whistle. These items helped Pi to survive at sea as he used the other life jackets he found in the lifeboat to create himself a floating island to keep away from Richard Parker. Furthermore the colour orange also symbolizes Richard Parker as he was orange, without Richard Parker Pi wouldn’t have survive out in the sea, Richard Parker was like a friend to Pi without him he would have gone insane Richard Parker helped him lose track of time to help him forget about the loss of his family, also without Richard Parker being there he would have been eaten by the Frenchman that tried to get on board. Another indication that the colour orange was used as a religious symbol is when he made the comparisons between that of Orange Juice, the orangutan, and the Virgin Mary, and would also often bring up Jesus on the cross. An important argument that I can use to prove my thesis is the island that Pi and Richard Parker came across, this island they encountered was a great comparison to the story of Adam and Eve…

    • 432 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Adam

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A.5. His hosts felt extremely embarrassed when he left because of an insulting remark from his dinner partner.…

    • 303 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Douglas Adam

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Adams was an English writer and dramatist, best known as the author of The Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy. He also wrote a lot of other books and stories like The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul (1988) and three chapter for the television series Doctor Who.…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Adams began influencing the course of American politics when he was a lawyer in Boston. Adams defended John Hancock against charges of smuggling brought upon him by the British. Perhaps his most famous case was his reluctant defense of Capt. Thomas Preston, who had been in charge of the Red Coats at the Boston Massacre. While Adams feared what the case would do to his reputation, he defended them in the sprit of having a fair trial. Evidently, his popularity seemed unscathed as he was then elected to the Massachusetts legislature.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays