John Adams Book Report
John Adams By David McCullough
Characters
John Adams - Abigail Smith Adam’s husband. Father of five children. The 1st vice president of the United States and its 2nd president. But before this a Harvard graduate, a school teacher, a renowned and ethical lawyer and a legal and constitutional scholar.
Abigail Smith Adams - John Adams' wife. An important person in John's life for more than 50 years, constantly exchanging letters with him. She encouraged him and pushed him through these letters while also showing that she was a strong, bold, brave, and politically informed woman.
John Quincy Adams - Adam’s oldest son. The 6th president of the US. But before this an ambassador and Harvard professor. He began his diplomatic and political career while traveling with his father at a young age. He developed more in this aspect after serving as a personal secretary to the minister of Russia in his teenage years.
Alexander Hamilton - The 1st secretary of the treasury. Leader of the Federalists. During Adam’s presidency he separated from Adams, though he retained vast authority over the cabinet until Adams got rid of the “Hamiltonian Federalists” in his cabinet. Adams blamed Hamilton for being mostly responsible for everything that went wrong during his administration.
James Otis - A powerful patriot, legislative ally, and a close buddy of John Adams . But as the Stamp Act crisis passed, the patriots good opinion of him dimmed. When Adams decided to complain to the Crown governors, he got Otis to assist him in drafting several of the letters.
Events
Stamp Act of 1765 - An Act created by the British required colonists to buy special stamped paper made in London, to print newspapers, magazines, and all legal documents. The Act retracted Britain's previous policy of not taxing within the colonies. It is considered a major event that led to the American Revolution.
Boston Massacre - An incident involving the deaths of five civilians at the hands of British
Characters
John Adams - Abigail Smith Adam’s husband. Father of five children. The 1st vice president of the United States and its 2nd president. But before this a Harvard graduate, a school teacher, a renowned and ethical lawyer and a legal and constitutional scholar.
Abigail Smith Adams - John Adams' wife. An important person in John's life for more than 50 years, constantly exchanging letters with him. She encouraged him and pushed him through these letters while also showing that she was a strong, bold, brave, and politically informed woman.
John Quincy Adams - Adam’s oldest son. The 6th president of the US. But before this an ambassador and Harvard professor. He began his diplomatic and political career while traveling with his father at a young age. He developed more in this aspect after serving as a personal secretary to the minister of Russia in his teenage years.
Alexander Hamilton - The 1st secretary of the treasury. Leader of the Federalists. During Adam’s presidency he separated from Adams, though he retained vast authority over the cabinet until Adams got rid of the “Hamiltonian Federalists” in his cabinet. Adams blamed Hamilton for being mostly responsible for everything that went wrong during his administration.
James Otis - A powerful patriot, legislative ally, and a close buddy of John Adams . But as the Stamp Act crisis passed, the patriots good opinion of him dimmed. When Adams decided to complain to the Crown governors, he got Otis to assist him in drafting several of the letters.
Events
Stamp Act of 1765 - An Act created by the British required colonists to buy special stamped paper made in London, to print newspapers, magazines, and all legal documents. The Act retracted Britain's previous policy of not taxing within the colonies. It is considered a major event that led to the American Revolution.
Boston Massacre - An incident involving the deaths of five civilians at the hands of British