John Q Adams

John Adams had three remarkable careers in his lifetime.   One as an enemy of British oppression and


champion of independence.   As an American diplomat in Europe and as the first vice-president and second


president of the United States.   His diary, letters and speeches showed him to be very patriotic, a stong


family man and tough-minded philosopher.  




Adams was born in Quincy, Mass.   on October 30, 1735.   He was born in a small house that is still


standing and open to visitors.   His father was a Deacon and fifth generation farmer.   His parents were both


fond of reading, wrote John and give him a good education.   He became the first of his family to go to


college when he entered Harvard in 1751.   For the next six years he read intensly while he taught school


and studied law in Boston.   In 1762 he began a fourteen year successful law career.  




In 1761 he began to think, write and act against British oppression and for the right of colonies to


self-government.   He was patriotic and held many local offices.   In 1770 he insured that the British soldiers


accused of the Boston Massacre received a fair hearing.   He defended the soldiers at their trial.   He spoke


out against mob violence and other forms of social disintegration.    




In 1774 to 1776 Adams was a deligate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.   He was a


champion of American rights in Congress and


helped draft the Declaration of Independence.




John Adams' presidency   that lasted from 1797 to 1801 was a troubled one.   Adams made many


contributions during his term.   He gave the Government stability by continuing practices established under


Washington.   The crisis he faced was the difficult relations with France.When in the XYZ affair peace


commissioners retuned from Paris with stories of bribery and deceit, Adams built up the...