The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

Schiff’s biography of Samuel Adams portrays him as a central figure in the American Revolution whose ideological rigor and political skills were pivotal in the movement toward American independence. Born on September 27, 1722, in Boston, Massachusetts, Adams graduated from Harvard College with an interest in politics and philosophy, which he later channeled into his revolutionary activities. Adams’s early career was marked by various ventures into business and politics, where he developed a reputation for his strong opinions and leadership skills.

As a politician known for contributing to public agitation, Adams was instrumental in organizing the Sons of Liberty, a group of American patriots that resisted British imposition, most famously through the Boston Tea Party. His ability to articulate the colonists’ grievances and to mobilize public sentiment made him a formidable opponent to British rule and a key architect of revolutionary strategy. Adams’s leadership in the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence also played a notable role in fostering intercolonial unity, which contributed to the success of the revolutionary cause.

Schiff’s biography portrays Adams as a political strategist and visionary who helped shape the ideological foundations of the new nation. His commitment to principles such as liberty, equality, and democratic governance influenced the development of American political philosophy. Schiff examines Adams’s contributions in the context of his interactions with other key figures of the time, providing a dynamic picture of his influence on the events and ideologies that led to the formation of the US.

A cousin of Samuel Adams, John Adams was a seminal figure in the American Revolution and the early years of the US as a nation. Born on October 30, 1735, in Braintree, Massachusetts, he rose to prominence as a lawyer, diplomat, and leader. His intellectual rigor and eloquence made him a notable advocate for the American cause in both domestic and international arenas. As a diplomat in Europe during and after the Revolutionary War, he was important in securing support and recognition for the burgeoning US.

The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams presents John Adams as a relative and contemporary of Samuel Adams and as a counterpoint in their revolutionary activities. While Samuel focused on mobilizing grassroots support, John worked within the frameworks of law and diplomacy. Schiff explores their interactions and sometimes divergent views against the backdrop of the complex political landscape. John’s role in drafting the Declaration of Independence and his contributions as the second president of the US underscore his significant impact on the nation’s founding and governance.