John Adams Sr.: The Boston Massacre

“Fear is the foundation of most governments,” (1) quoted by the fearless leader John Adams. John Adams played significant roles during the years of 1763 through 1776. He was in support of self-governing and independence which caused him to become the leader of the Boston Massacre.

When researching many sources written about the Boston massacre, there were several authors who issued articles about the Boston Massacre, particularly journals, letter and references. Some authors categorized the Boston massacre by its context in history by examining it by the people who were involved in the important event. However, while the authors talk about journals, letters and references, there really wasn’t much discussion about other important part of the Boston Massacre: who really caused it. The goal in this research paper is this Boston Massacre debate is by explaining how it was the colonist fault for causing the Boston massacre because they resulted in the soldiers firing at them because they were the ones to start the

John Adams was born on October 30, 1735 and died July 4, 1826. He was an early advocate of American independence from Great Britain, a major figure in the Continental Congress author of the Massachusetts constitution, signer of the Treaty of Paris, first American ambassador to the Court of St. James, first vice president, and second president of the United States. Although Adams was looked as one of the most significant statesmen of the revolutionary era, his reputation faded in the 19th century, only to grow again during the last half of the 20th century.

John Adams was born on October 30th, 1735 (History.com). Adams was the oldest of three sons and his father was a shoemaker/farmer and an official for the local government (History.com). John Adams was a very hard working student and his hard work payed off when he graduated from Harvard in 1755 (History.com). In the beginning Adams taught for many years and then went on to study law (History.com). John Adams went on to marry Abigail Smith in 1764 and they decided to have six children throughout the years (History.com). When Adams started his law career in 1758, he because an outstanding attorney in Boston (History.com).

The Boston Massacre was an incident that took place on March 5, 1770 where the British Army killed five male civilians as well as injuring six others. The use of propaganda at the time led by patriots spurred hostility towards the British authority. The result of the hatred was great tension among the public as well as the death of some of the participants. Following the alarming incidence, Thomas Hutchinson, the acting governor committed himself to undertaking an inquiry, which reformed on the following day and the troops withdrew to Castle Island . The soldiers and the civilians arrested there in were arrested and charged with murder. Consequently, John Adams, a defense lawyer defended them and they were acquitted. Thus, this paper focuses on the investigative role of John Adams and the ethics behind the Boston Massacre.

John Adams was born in Massachusetts, on October 30, 1735. He was a Harvard educated lawyer, he became identified with the patriot cause. A delegate to the first, and second Continental Congresses. He also led in the movement for independence. Adams began his career as a lawyer, he was intelligent, patriotic, opinionated, and blunt.(US presidents book/ Marc Fray, and Todd Davis).

After the Boston Massacre the Sons of Liberty called it a battle for American liberty and just cause for removal of british troops from Boston. Then a patriot named Paul Revere had the infamous midnight run and was going to Concord to warn Patriot leaders.Paul was caught and was stranded near Lexington. When later the “Shot heard round’ the world” started the American Revolution, the Sons had formed the first armies known as militias. Then when the battles had erupted The leaders of the Sons like Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Benjamin rush, and Oliver Wolcott then became the leaders of the war along with people like George Washington.

John Quincy Adams was born on July 11, 1767 in Braintree, MA. John was the son of second President John Adams. While he was a child,around the age of 8, he got to experience something no other child would ever wonder, he watched the famous Battle of Bunker Hill on a hill top that was close to his farm house. John Quincy was never really allowed the freedom of being a child. From age 10 and up he went with his father to important meeting about the Revolution, Treaty of Paris, Etc. Soon after he became his fathers secretary of state.

Boston Massacre: The Boston Massacre was the breaking point for the war starting. The colonials felt like they were innocent and that the people that were killed were innocent. It angered the colonists that the British just shot at them. This made every meeting between the British and the colonists more and more tense.

The Boston Massacre was an important event in U.S. history, that lead to the American

John Adams was born October 30th, 1735, in Quincy(formerly known as Braintree), Massachusetts. The son of John Adams Sr. and Susanna Boylston Adams. When Adams was sixteen years old he received an scholarship to Harvard University where he graduated in 1755 at the age of twenty. After graduating he studied law in the office of James Putman a very well known lawyer even though his father wanted him to join the ministry. He earned a master's degree in 1758, from harvard and then admitted to the bar.

The five people killed were Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Because a British soldier had already killed a colonial citizen, tensions were high between the two groups, but after the death of those five citizens, tensions grew exponentially. The trial over the incident began, but hardly anyone wanted to represent the men who killed five citizens, except John Adams. Along with Josiah Quincy, Adams offered to defend the British soldiers in the trial of the Boston Massacre. Hardly anyone in Boston wanted to provide counsel for the defense because they knew such an unpopular case might have soiled their careers. John Adams’ motivations for taking the case are not known, but many think he decided to defend the British so that he might be seen as a man who could do the “right thing” and defend the rights and liberties of anyone, even men who murdered innocent

The Boston Massacre was the end result of many factors that had been building up in the colonies since the French and Indian War. England was deeply in debt and expected the colonies to share their burden. The colonies being forced to pay the taxes that had been avoided for a long time. The British tax collectors never had forced everyone to pay taxes simply because England didn’t need the money. England was making money off of the colonies trade goods so they did not absolutely need to collect the tax money from the colonists. Also, for about 140 years Britain passed laws of Salutary Neglect allowing colonists to run their own government. By letting the colonists have their own forms of government and then taking away their freedoms to

Although John Adams was a great politician, he was better known for his knowledge and judgment. This was Proven at the Boston massacre. When the British soldiers, or Redcoats, fired into a crowd during a riot, no on in all of the 13 colonies would defend them in court, except for John Adams. He rose to the challenge and won over the Jury, by proving that they had fired out of fear for their lives. When his cousin, Samuel Adams, the leader of the Boston Sons of Liberty, confronted John and told him to pick a side, John responded, is the law not the only side (Miller Center, 2015)? This goes to show that all he wanted for this new land was to be a place of justice and honesty. He believed that just because no one agrees with you, doesn’t mean you should get an unfair trial.

John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on July 11 1787. He was the eldest son of former president John Adams and was given a lot of opportunities as a child. In Europe he helped his father by being his secretary and he became an accomplished writer. John became a lawyer after he finished college at Harvard. At just the young age of 26 he was appointed to be the Minister to the Netherlands by george Washington because John had openly supported him on his neutrality policy.The neutrality policy was there because there was high tension between France and Britain.