John Adams

John Adams is one of the most influential men in American History. Although he was born to humble circumstances, he quickly gained a reputation as a very intelligent and articulate man.
In the Continental Congress Adams played a crucial role. Although at first Adams was not convinced that America should break away from England, he soon saw that revolution was the only true and lasting option. John Adams was not a fence sitter and he could not bear to wait for England to answer for the many injustices they had committed. He was thoroughly a man of action, and once he committed himself to the cause of freedom, he never hesitated or looked back.
Adams led the debate for those who wanted to break from England. He felt a very keen sense of his duty to fight for the cause he believed in, and he expressed his ideas over and over again in Congress. I think he felt frustrated that even though a lot of the men felt the same way he did, none of them would express what they believed. He was one of the only ones who did not care about being popular with everyone else; he just stood and told everyone exactly how he felt. That takes a lot of courage and integrity, which John Adams had a lot of.
Besides being a passionate speaker, Adams was also a great persuader. He persuaded people to feel the same way he did, and even convinced Thomas Jefferson that a Declaration of Independence was necessary and that he should be the one to write it. Adams did not seek for glory, he simply worked for what he believed and asked for help from people that had more influence and popularity than he had.
John Adams was not a proud man; he looked to many others for advice and help. His most important advisor was his wife, Abigail Adams. Even though women were largely treated as subordinates during this time, he often corresponded with his wife and asked her thoughts about important political matters. He always treated her as an equal and respected her opinion.
Although Adams didn’t have much formal education and was raised as a farmer, he proved himself to be very intelligent and diplomatic. During his years in politics he made many brilliant political moves. One in the continental congress was appointing Washington as commander of the continental army, since Washington was a very popular and respected delegate.
All in all, John Adams greatly shaped the way American history played out. From his talent as a speaker, to his devotion to freedom and liberty, and to his intelligence and diplomacy, he made a truly great leader. I respect and admire him for his integrity and the devotion he had to preserve the rights of men. Without Adams and many men like him, I might not be enjoying all of the rights I have today.