On the Rise of John Adams

John Adams - few men throughout history have characterized the world around them while being defined themselves by such firm ideals and ethical codes throughout their lives as the Lawyer, Diplomat, and Founding Father who would become the Second President of the United States. For the accomplishments and advancements in American Civic Virtue championed by Adams; the Establishment of American Civil Religion, the Diplomatically-Assured Sovereignty of the United States, the Principles of Presumption of Innocence and Due process in the Judiciary, Proper functioning of the Judicial Branch, the Crafting of the National Character, combatting Radicalism Left and Right, and a unique sense for the importance of Education in a Republic - still echo into the present day and define our Republic. Unfortunately however, so often John Adams has been overlooked for his role in the development of the United States and the Virtues of our Republic - overshadowed by both Washington as his predecessor and Jefferson as his successor - arguably two of the greatest men to ever hold the office of President. While also overshadowed by his son John Quincy Adams and his wife Abigail for his virtues and foresight, his cousin Samuel for folk status, and his political allies John Marshall and Alexander Hamilton as the faces’ of the Federalist Party in historical memory - alongside the daunting reputation of his numerous Presidential blunders and a notorious feud with lifelong friend and successor Thomas Jefferson. Unfortunately, most Americans remember Adams for - as chronicled in Loony Toons - as the First Man to Live in the White House. Therefore, despite being famed for being the second President - John Adams arguably holds a more complex legacy than any Founding Father, one that often fails to understand the nuanced character of the man, the moments that shaped him, and his rise to prominence as one of the iconic, lead figures in the American Revolution and our Republics’ early years.

For John Adams was born on a late October Day in 1735, on the upper floor of the Adams’ family cabin, which by the time of John’s birth was nearly a century old - a testament to the presence of Adams’ ancestors. As the Harvest Season was coming to an End Across the colonies, naturally - aristocrats and laymen alike were in high spirits all throughout the continent. The son of the Reverend John Adams Sr. - a farmer and the preeminent minister for the town of Braintree, Massachusetts - John Adams’ family had been in Massachusetts for five generations by 1735, with his Great-Great Grandfather Henry Adams having crossed the Atlantic in 1632 to found the town of Braintree (nowadays located in the suburbs of Boston), where the Adams’ family men had traditionally served as Ministers for the Town Congregation, and by the time of John Adams, the family had become a staple of the small town. John Adams' childhood however was defined predominantly by his mother - Susanna - who had put a strong emphasis on John’s education while his father sought to instill noble principles in the child; a reality that Adams later considered to be the greatest blessing of his adolescence. Adams’ sense of duty was exemplified when in 1754, following his inability to join the Massachusetts Militia due to enrollment in college, Adams became plagued by guilt and a sense of regret that would characterize his sense of duty to public institutions throughout his 20’s. After attending the newly established Braintree Latin School (For in colonial society, Latin was pivotal for a higher-level job in the Clergy, Law, or Government) - John Adams, a noted, eager scholar with a fascination for the Classics, was admitted to Harvard at sixteen, during a time in which the College was undergoing a significant transition from an institution primarily designed for the education of the Clergy, to a true Enlightenment-Era Educational Institution. In order to finance Adams’ collegiate education, his father was forced to sell ten acres of prosperous farmland - an action that had instilled a unique sense of duty and determination in the young Adams. While his father desired he become a Minister in the family tradition - Adams grew a unique disdain for the prospects of a career in the Clergy - instead preferring to spend his time in Harvard drinking Hard-Cider and reading Classical Greek and Roman texts including Plato, Aristotle, Thucydides, Plutarch, and most notably Cicero - whose emphasis on duties to ones’ fellow man in a classical Republican sense enamored him far more than the standard Puritan Religious Texts, and instilled an early admiration for the principles of a Noble, Honorable Republic in a Classical Sense in Adams mind.

Regarding the prospect of a career in the Clergy, Adams grew increasingly reviled by the thought - and while in college, he developed an underlying cynicism towards the Clergy, stating rather bluntly what he believed to be the; “pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces”, instead preferring Academia and Law as what he believed to be nobler, more classically inspired professions. Following the resolution of his education at Harvard in 1755, Adams briefly served as a schoolteacher before deciding to study Law under prominent Worcester Lawyer James Putnam (during the 18th Century, rather than uniform Law Schools, most Colonial Lawyers were trained by a sort of Apprenticeship Program before eventual Bar Admission) - where, alongside his routine study of Greek and roman Classics, Adams developed a matured sense of Duty, Honor through Action, and a determination to be, in his own words; “A Great Man of Honor”. This feeling grew especially as his father’s health deteriorated before his death in 1761, and following his admission to the Bar in 1759 - Adams sought to devote his life to championing the classical principles of Civic Virtue, Duty, and Honor in his legal practice - by defending the Presumption of Innocence and the Right to Proper Defense and defending the Rights of the Citizen in the face of Tyranny. Although fairly unknown at first, Adams would gradually rise to local prominence as a masterful Defense Attorney, championing the Presumption of Innocence, Due Process of the Law, and Challenging what he perceived to be the Unlawful Entry of the homes of the citizenry by British officials and the unlawful stationing of British Soldiers in civilian homes - convictions that would gradually evolve into the 4th and 3rd Amendments Respectively. Adams also became noted amongst New England Intellectuals and Proto-Abolitionists for Representing Slaves in lawsuits attempting to gain their freedom, and notably championed the cause of Abolition on the State/Regional Level - despite later avoiding the matter in National Politics for the sake of unity. During this time, particularly due to the Tyrannical Nature of British Colonial Policy following the French-Indian War, Adams found himself increasingly alienated from the British Establishment and began to sympathize with the Colonial Cause.

Adams first ever foray into politics had been writing opinion editorials for various New England Newspapers at the encouragement of his wife Abigail; under the pen name Humphrey Ploughjogger - where he would criticize overbearing British Policy and the corruption of the Massachusetts Elites while emphasizing Civic Virtue and Classical Duties to one’s civilization. Interestingly, in my opinion, while Founding Fathers like Jefferson and Madison seemed to derive inspiration from contemporary Enlightenment Philosophers, Adams derived inspiration and intellectual heritage directly from the Classical Republicans, such as Cicero, Aristotle, and Polybius. Beyond writing editorials, John Adams continued to be noted as a Lawyer for not only his steadfast principles and legal prowess but also his unique devotion to a set Social Contract and belief in Governing State Principles in beliefs that would ultimately evolve into the Massachusetts State Constitution - Adams’ brainchild, decades later in 1780. Despite this early development of character and minor local prominence, Adams truly rose to decent national prominence as a preeminent opponent of the Tyrannical Stamp Act of 1765 - writing the Braintree Instructions (based in part off Patrick Henry’s Virginia Resolves - written notably on the advice of George Washington), which petitioned the Massachusetts Colonial Assembly to condemn and actively oppose the Stamp Act due to the act fundamentally lacking the consent of the governed and the representation of the Colonies in Parliament. These concepts, although seemingly commonplace today - were at the time fairly revolutionary, and established Adams as an early and lead advocate for the Principles of Republicanism, a proper Social Contract, and opposition to British policy. Some of his articles condemning the Stamp Act with a remarkable degree of eloquence - would ultimately be taken by prominent London Newspapers and published as The True Sentiments of America, designed to besmirch the colonies. Despite this sinister intention, the publishing had the unintended consequence of providing free publicity for Adams and earning him a notable, intellectual reputation amongst both the Colonial Elites and sympathetic British Whigs.

Following this incident, Adams’ became the lead spokesman in opposition to the act, speaking on behalf of the Everyday New Englander to the Massachusetts Assembly, and being elected Selectmen (a Colonial Administrative equivalent for local counselor) for his hometown of Braintree the following year. Adams would briefly serve as town selectman before resigning in 1768 - preferring to move to Boston and resume his legal career in order to provide adequate defense to those in need - especially as British Tyranny and Repression were on the rise. During these years, Adams rapidly became the preeminent Lawyer in Boston and arguably all of New England - meeting many of his future colleagues as Founding Fathers, most notably John Hancock, by providing their Legal Defense in the face of lofty, tyrannical charges of violating Parliamentary Edicts. Adams would quickly become known during this time as among the most eloquent, mild-mannered, and conciliatory of the growing voices for Colonial Autonomy and Representation - often placing him in direct contrast with his more outspoken, brash cousin Samuel (who became an early face of the Revolution). Ultimately, it was the vicious Boston Massacre in 1770 that provided Adams with not only the opportunity to cement himself in the growing calls for Reform but also a poetic test of Adams’ virtues - as the assigned Defendant for the Eight British Soldiers who committed the crime, despite his personal convictions. In spite of the overwhelming public outcry following the Massacre, Adams masterfully defended the Soldiers - getting six of them acquitted, and the main two receiving reduced sentences on mere manslaughter charges - a feat that from a purely analytical standpoint was highly impressive, yet provided Adams with the national standing and reputation to effectively appeal to both Patriots and Loyalists.

In the subsequent years, Adams would experience his own political evolution from being one of the more notably Moderate Founding Fathers - condemning both British Tyranny of Taxation without Representation, and the Violent Mob Justice of Tax-Weary Colonials. As opposed outright revolt, Adams initially supported a more moderate, peaceful reform, achieving increased autonomy, while briefly flirting with the concept of a united commonwealth providing equal rights and direct representation in Parliament for the Colonies - an idea that although admirable in a perfect world, was hated by his fellow Colonists almost as much as by the British Elite. However, Adams grew to gradually support imperfect independence from Tyrannical British Rule, as the British attempted to commandeer the basic functions of Massachusetts’ Colonial Government, destroying the independence of the Judiciary and silencing opposition to the takeover. John Adams's political evolution however served him well, only enhancing his reputation as an eloquent, analytical spokesman of the Colonial Cause, garnering his selection by the Massachusetts Assembly to attend the First Continental Congress in 1774, where he quickly became a notable arbiter of compromise between the various factions of the Congress - enabling for him to establish himself as a premier figure in what was quickly evolving into the American Revolution - co-authoring the United Colonial list of grievances dedicated to King George III, with a particular emphasis on the need for a fair, independent Judiciary. As the Revolutionary War Broke out, Adams was notable for championing the Nomination of George Washington as Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army; and co-authoring the Declaration of Independence with Virginian Thomas Jefferson in 1776 - beginning a beautiful lifelong friendship and a tumultuous political relationship between them. Later that year, with the dream of independence beginning to be realized - Adams, alongside dozens of his fellow Founding Fathers published his official theses on government, creatively named Thoughts on Government.

A unique synthesis of Colonial Tradition, Enlightenment Thinking, and Classical Civic Virtue in a Republic, Adams’ Thoughts included not only a rudimentary bicameral legislature, but a government consisting of three branches (that would later be adopted and championed by Madison), and a unique emphasis on Civic Virtue, an Independent Judiciary, and most notably, an Aristotle-Inspired emphasis on Public Education. His thesis would ultimately earn him a unique role in the construction of the national character and more than anything else served to immortalize Adams in the realm of Political Philosophy and Classical Republicanism that he had long aspired to enter. As was common with the prominent leaders of the Revolution, Adams undertook a pivotal role in the Diplomatic Policy of the Fledgling Nation, securing loans from the French and the Dutch to finance the Revolution; becoming the Ambassador to the Dutch Republic in 1780, and the Official Representative for the Colonies’ at the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which resolved the Revolutionary War and guaranteed American Independence. In the aftermath of this archetypal feat in our nation’s history, having been the official Representative of a movement that in his own words seemed but a decade prior to be a futile dream in the minds of a few romantics - that was now a veritable reality. Adams, now a lead figure in the new Nation following a lifelong quest for personal improvement, honor, and championing Civic Virtue - would go on to become American Ambassador to the United Kingdom, before being elected Washington’s Vice President as a passionate supporter of the new Constitution and the policy of the Washington Administration - hence landing himself at the helm of the new Federalist Party alongside the eccentric Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. The man once known as Humphrey Ploughjogger would go on to serve as President for four years beginning in 1797, in the midst of rising partisan division, losing re-election to his old friend Thomas Jefferson amidst numerous scandals and failures, before going on to enjoy a quarter-century of fruitful retirement before his death in 1826.

For John Adams’ legacy is one of grave complexity and nuance, often overlooked when in contrast with his peers, yet characterized by a lifelong quest for Honor, Civic Virtue, and Betterment - one that reads straight out of the pages of Cicero - yet one whose nobility echoes into the present day. Hence, it is important when remembering Adams, to remember the codes of virtue, devotion to the classics, and an unwavering sense of duty to a fair law that facilitates a fair society - that crafted the man who shaped our country and served as the Second President.