John Adams facts for kids

John Adams facts for kids - social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades.

Next to Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, we don’t really hear about John Adams. He is, however, a very important character in American history and he just so happens to be the second president of the United States of America. Below, you can find out more about the extraordinary man who aided in laying the foundation for the beloved U.S.A.

John Adams was born on October 19, 1735, in a small town in Massachusetts. His father’s name was John Adams, Sr., and his mother’s name was Susanna Boylston. He was one of three children, and his younger brothers were named Peter and Elihu.

John Adams is most known for being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and one of the spokesmen for American independence. He was also a compulsive diarist, and he would often send letters to his wife, Abigail. His cousin, Samuel Adams, was his partner in leading the American Revolution. John Adams was one of the main advocates for the right to counsel, due to his defending British soldiers after the Boston Massacre. This was incredibly brave on his part, considering that he was defending the British in a time when certain areas of the United States carried a very anti-British sentiment.

One of his major achievements in life was aiding Thomas Jefferson in creating and drafting the Declaration of Independence (1776), which is a document that named the thirteen U.S. colonies as being independent from Great Britain. Here, John Adams convinced Congress to allow Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence, which John Adams then made changes to, and Congress proceeded to complete the document. Because of his political importance and military credentials, he easily secured himself a place as George Washington’s vice president, and he also secured his own presidency term in 1796, which is when he became the second president of the United States.

John Adams’s political influence did not end with himself; his son, John Quincy Adams, grew to become the sixth president of the United States. This heritage of diplomacy and reverence began with his ancestors, who were puritans that arrived in America in the 1600s. It was his family’s reputation which drove John Adams to the political leader he became. Because Adams was the oldest son, there was a lot of pressure to get a formal education. When he was sixteen years old, he began attending Harvard College. After his degree, John Adams decided to teach for a few years, and he later became a renowned politician.

John Adams is not universally known around the world; in fact, some people won’t have heard of his until reading this. He was, however, one of the most influential leaders in the United States of America’s history. His family history, combined with his own drive, allowed him to become one of the men behind the Declaration of Independence. His advocacy for human rights, in defending the British army, demonstrates the very foundation of America: that all are equal and free