Government & political leaders
John Adams
1735–1826
Massachusetts connection
Braintree, now Quincy; Boston
Adams was a lawyer, a leader for independence, and the second U.S. president. He was the main author of the Massachusetts Constitution. He also defended British soldiers after the Boston Massacre. His work helps us discuss why fair trials matter even when people strongly disagree.
You can use your device’s reading tools or read with a partner.
Your turn, historian
Find a detail. Build an idea.
- What did this person or group do? Point to a detail in the reading.
- Whose voice did this person bring into public decisions?
- What would you like to find out next? Which kind of source could help?
“John Adams mattered because ___. A detail that supports my idea is ___.”
Follow the evidence.
This short reading is an original classroom summary. Open the source with your teacher to check details and learn more.
Read the source: National Park Service ↗Ask: Who made this source? What can it tell us? What might it leave out?
Quincy: the Adams family homes
Watch, question, compare
American Battlefield Trust videos
Adams Family Papers