John Adams

John Adams

Picture of John Adams

This article on  the biography and life of John Adams provides facts and information about:

  • Who was John Adams?
  • What was his involvement in the American Revolutionary War?
  • What was his involvement in creating the United States of America?
  • Life and Biography of John Adams
  • Interesting facts and fast information about John Adams
  • Massachusetts representative to the Continental Congress
  • the second U.S. President
  • Educational resource for teachers and kids
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The colonization of America and interesting facts about the life of the patriot John Adams, the second U.S. President

Short Biography about John Adams
John Adams (1735-1826) came to prominence in the early stages of the American Revolution and was elected the Massachusetts representative to the Continental Congress. He became a Founding Father and the second U.S. President. This article contains a short biography and fast facts and information about John Adams. Who was John Adams and why was he famous?

Facts about John Adams

 John Adams Fact 1John Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on October 30, 1735

 John Adams Fact 2His parents were John Adams, Sr., and Susanna Boylston Adams

 John Adams Fact 3He had two brothers and were raised on the family's farm

 John Adams Fact 4John Adams was well educated and attended Harvard College in 1751

 John Adams Fact 5John Adams was the second cousin of Samuel Adams and a boyhood friend of John Hancock, all famous patriots. 

 John Adams Fact 6In 1758, John Adams was admitted to the bar and subsequently opened his own law practice

 John Adams Fact 7In 1761 John Adams witnessed the speech of James Otis in contesting the British sovereign’s power and the Writs of Assistance during the Paxton's Case

 John Adams Fact 7He married Abigail Smith (1744–1818), his third cousin and the daughter of a Congregational minister on October 25, 1764 at Weymouth, Massachusetts

 John Adams Fact 8John and Abigail had 6 children including the future president John Quincy (1767–1848)

 John Adams Fact 9He had been a staunch opponent of British policies before the American Revolution arguing against the Stamp Act and other actions

 John Adams Fact 10In 1770, John Adams defended British soldiers accused of killing five colonists on Boston Green in what became known as the Boston Massacre - he wanted to ensure that the soldiers had a fair trial.

 John Adams Fact 11John Adams was a supporter of Paul Revere and was in Boston at the time of the Boston Tea Party. He subsequently argued against the Intolerable Acts and contributed to the Patriot communication network called the Committees of Correspondence

Port of Boston in 1774

Port of Boston in 1774
 

 
 John Adams Fact 12He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence for Massachusetts. During the American Revolution (1775–83), Adams was a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses.

Facts about John Adams

John Adams - Founding Father of the United States of America
He was one of the seven, key political leaders and statesmen who became a Founding Father of the United States of America. The seven key Founding Fathers were George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. The seven key "Founding Fathers" were either the "Signers of the Declaration of Independence" or the "Framers of the Constitution". John Adams was one of the key seven Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Facts about John Adams

 John Adams Fact 13In 1775, he nominated George Washington to be commander-in-chief of the army

 John Adams Fact 14John Adams wrote the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence  which stated that King George III had rejected reconciliation and was hiring foreign mercenaries to use against the American colonies

 John Adams Fact 15He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence for the Colony of Massachusetts

 John Adams Fact 16John Adams was Diplomat to France. He was sent to France in 1778 and in 1782. During the second trip he helped create the Peace Treaty of Paris 1783 with Benjamin Franklin and John Jay which ended the American Revolution

 John Adams Fact 17He became the first US minister to Great Britain (1785–88). His house, off Grosvenor Square in London, still stands today and is commemorated by a plaque

 John Adams Fact 18John Adams was elected as the second U.S. President.   His term in office ran from 1797–1801

 John Adams Fact 19The XYZ Affair: In 1797 President John Adams only referred to three French diplomats as X,Y and Z in reference to a bribery attempt perpetrated by French agents that led the US to the brink of formal war with France

 John Adams Fact 20The Alien and Sedition Acts were signed by Adams in 1798: These Acts were passed when war with France seemed a possibility.  The acts were passed to limit immigration and free speech. The Alien and Sedition Acts were directed against revolutionary emigrants from Europe and which made it difficult to acquire American citizenship. The Sedition Act provided for imprisonment for criticizing the government.

 John Adams Fact 21The Alien and Sedition Acts were eventually used against opponents of the Federalists leading to arrests and censorship. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in protest.

 John Adams Fact 22Although John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were opponents, holding different political views, they ended their lives regularly writing to each other

 John Adams Fact 2316 months before the death of John Adams, his son, John Quincy Adams, became the sixth President of the United States (1825–1829)

 John Adams Fact 24John Adams died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson died on the same day

Facts about John Adams

John Adams

The life and biography of John Adams is presented in a short, easy fact file format that is highly suitable for kids. The facts about  are a fast and accurate way to gain a good understanding of the life of this famous man who played a major role in the American Revolutionary War. The facts include the major events in the life of John Adams together with important dates and details of his family.

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