The Dynamic Duo of John and Samuel Adams Essays

The Dynamic Duo of John and Samuel Adams Essays The Dynamic Duo of John and Samuel Adams Essay The Dynamic Duo of John and Samuel Adams Essay Two of the most dangerous men in Boston during the time of the revolutionary war were the Adams’ brothers. Though they were not brothers at all, they were in fact they were second cousins. They both had similar ideals about independence but came from different backgrounds. In time John Adams would become the more recognized Adams’ mostly in part to becoming the 1st vice president then later elected as the 2nd president of the United States. John Adams could also be well known for his heated debates with political rival Thomas Jefferson.Samuel Adams on the other hand is thought to be one of the main agitators the sparked the interest of independence among the colonies and influenced John Adams’ ideas on the subject. Today most people associate the name Samuel Adams with the popular Boston beer brewing company. Though Samuel Adams was from Boston and a brewer himself, he was not a very good one. Thankfully his recipes were not used in the Boston lager that we know today. If we were to wander the fields of Braintree Massachusetts around 1745 we might have encountered a bright young 10 year old skipping school and searching for direction in life.This little boy would be John Adams. John Adams was born in 1735 in Braintree Massachusetts about 12 miles south of Boston. Braintree was a farming community and residents there where rooted deep in their faith. This is where John Adams would grow up, and his father being a devout Protestant farmer tried to instill these values in his son. John Adams’ father wanted nothing more than for his son to be a minister. At the time this was the most noble and spiritually rewarding job one could have. John didn’t share this view with his father and would often skip school to daydream and frolic in the fields.One day when his father found out about his truancy, John said he was fine settling to be a farmer and didn’t see a need to go back to school. John’s father was thought to be an intelligent man and decided not to pick a fight but instead immediately put his son to work as he had wished. It didn’t take long for the young John Adams to realize that maybe going to school was that bad compared to the life of a farmer. John proceeded to excel in academics and would later graduate from Harvard University in 1755.He did not pursue the path in which his father wanted for him but instead became a teacher and later practiced law. John found law fascinating and had a strong belief in fair trials for anyone being prosecuted. He believed everyone should have a fair trial, so much in fact that he was even a defender for one of the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. John Adams, in his old age, called his defense of British soldiers in 1770 one of the most gallant, generous, manly, and disinterested actions of my whole life, and one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my country. http://law2. umkc. edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/bostonmassacre/keyfigures. html John Adams political career would take off when he and Thomas Jefferson were tasked to draft the Constitution. Notoriety of his work with the Constitution would propel Adams to be elected President President. Samuel Adams was also considered one of the founding fathers of the United States. Born in Boston on September 1772, Samuel was raised in a religious family like John Adams. Samuel Adams was raised in a Puritan home; his father was a deacon of the church and a successful beer brewer.Like John Adams, Samuel attended Harvard and proceeded to study law after graduation. Unlike John, Samuel didn’t study law for long, instead he took a job working as a clerk in the counting house of Thomas Cushing. Then decided to venture out on his own and test his entrepreneurial skills, none of which were successful. These pitfalls lead Samuel into politics. He felt as if his father’s business ventures and his own were stifled by the British economic stronghold on the colonies. This idea was the driving force for his bolstering opposition of British taxation and the beginning of his political career. It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds. ’ Samuel Adams. This quote is an accurate portrayal of Samuel Adams political philosophy. Though he was unsuccessful in previous ventures Samuel found his strongest trait to be the ability to rally people and persuade. This would make him a very successful politician. The British viewed Samuel Adams the same way The United States views radical Islamic extremists today. He was not only a hreat to the British economic ties to the colonies but a revolutionary that could possibly persuade the way government was perceived around the world. The British promised they would not punish Colonists who would stop fighting against them, all except Samuel Adams and John Hancock. http://library. thinkquest. org/TQ0312848/sadams. htm Though the desire of independence was similar with both Samuel and John their political philosophies differed. John was a republican and Samuel was a Federalist. Though this was not the most prolific difference between the two.The main difference between the two was their approach of obtaining independence. John Adams believed that negotiations and the justice system was the best path to independence. Samuel on the other hand, initiated mobs and felt a militaristic revolution was the only answer. The Stamp Act was an example of the distinctive difference in approaches. During this conflict John Adams took a conservative approach and wrote articles in the Boston Gazette stating the legal logistics of how the Stamp Act was infringing on the rights of the colonist. He also drafted Braintree Instructions.The Braintree Instructions were a comprehensive essay outlining the rights of the colonists. He would promote his publications by giving speeches at government assemblies. Samuel Adams decided to take a more rash approach. He founded was it to be believed to be Americas first gang The Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty was a violent group of activists that were responsible the hangings of British appointed officials. When the British passed the Stamp Act Samuel Adams decided to set fire to and destroy the building that was going to be the headquarters for this new tax.During the campaign for freedom john Adams could be considered the brains while Samuel Adams was the muscle of the operation. Though their tactics were in stark contrast, both Adams’ thought very highly of each other and would share ideas through meetings and letters. This exchange of ideas would complement one another and help balance their next course of actions. In the letters exchanged between the two, they ask questions and often refer to ancient European philosophers. The interpretation of the teachings of these philosophers varies between them.This is evident when they would write about the future political architecture of the country and balance of powers. In a letter to John Adams, Samuel Adams states The best formed constitutions that have yet been contrived by the wit of man, have, and will come to an end,- because the kingdoms of the earth have not been governed by reason. The pride of kings, of nobles, and leaders of the people, who have all governed in their turns, have disadjusted the delicate frame, and thrown all into confusion. http://democraticthinker. ordpress. com/2010/04/10/samuel-john-adams-on-government%E2%80%94letter-ii/. This shows Samuel Adams civil unrest for any past government in place. Even with a fair constitution he believes that the powers that are to enforce the constitution can and will one day be corrupt unless there exists a checks and balances system. John Adams would keep statements like this in mind when he would take part in drafting the America’s new constitution and lay the ground work for the prosperous country it would become.