John Adams Part 3: Revered or reviled?
Adams is pictured here in the center with his hand on his hip. A painting commissioned for the halls of congress painted by John Turnbull. Later on in life, John Adams would see this painting and lament at the innacuracy. The signers signed usually individually as they came in and out of PA in preparation of the looming war.
Ok, so Know I got ranty and way off subject on part 2. Here lets look at the policies supported by Adams, and the policies he either acquiesced to, or full out supported. Pres. Adams was someone who held certain standards for himself, and demanded them of his children, yet understood the need for debate in the chamber of congress. Lets start at the beginning.
In 1774, at the instigation of Samuel Adams, the First Continental Congress was convened in response to the Intolerable Acts, a series of deeply unpopular measures intended to punish Massachusetts, centralize authority in Britain, and prevent rebellion in other colonies. Four delegates were chosen by the Massachusetts legislature, including Adams, who agreed to attend, despite an emotional plea from his friend Jonathan Sewall not to. McCullough, David John Adams
Here we have a Lawyer who chose to represent the British Soldiers who were accused of perpetrating the Boston Massacre. He made his name winning that case and keeping those redcoats from hanging unjustly. His cousin Samuel Adams would end up being the responsible party along with his Sons of Liberty. Once selected to attend the continental congress, it was known where the final inevitable chip would fall coloquially. So immediately we see a man who holds certain principles above all others, namely the law. He acted in a way that showed what kind of person he is. Later on we will see how his stubborn cling to certain principles may have led him astray in his dealing with other officials upon becoming Vice President.
While at congress Adams would argue that the aggression of the British against Massachusetts was a clear and undeniable action. Massachusetts was no longer going to take this aggression laying down. He led the effort to get a unanimous vote for independence. He would not support insurrection unless everyone put their names on it, because they would also be risking their fortunes, safety, and very lives. This turned out to be the right call. Only New York abstained from the vote, making it unanimous. He would later be referred to as one of two thinkers who thought the United States into existance along with his long time friend Thomas Jefferson. On June 7, 1776, Adams seconded the resolution, which stated, "These colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."
Up to that point, I find very little to criticize Adams on. His stance on slavery was well known, very much against. He held on to principle in the face of challenges from his own countrymen when he defended the Soldiers from the Boston Massacre. He understood the line had been crossed when Redcoats began occupying Boston. Up to this point, his every move was one of principle and always leaned towards being a free man. In truth the very fact that we owe the Declaration of Independence to him(thanks to his lack of desire to write it and passing it off to Jefferson) and the charge into independence was reason enough for his guarantee in the books of our history. In the next blog we will discuss the events after the signing of the Declaration of Independence where he ensured history would not be kind to him.