What job did John Adams have before becoming famous?

Answer 1

Adams was many things. His profession was law and he often travelled a 200 mile circuit for his practice. He defended the soldiers in court for the Boston Massacre and he handled every kind of case. In 1766 he was elected selectman in Braintree. His law practice grew by leaps and bounds by 1772 he appeared in more than 200 Superior Court cases. One of his clients was John Hancock. In 1774 he was one of five delegates to the First Continental Congress and he wrote about government. One of his letters was Thoughts on Government to his fellow congressman William Hooper. To Adams the structure of government raised the fundamental questions on the realities of human nature, political power, and the good society. He wrote that the happiness of people was the purpose of government and therefore the form of government was best that produced the greatest amount of happiness for the largest number.( we have forgotten this). Adams took part in the writing of the Declaration of Independence and was the representative for Congress to France to gain aid and money to the patriot cause. Later, he will be appointed a minister of the United States to the British court and help with the Treaty of Paris, but he was not home for the writing of the constitution. He got a copy that fall in London. He doesn't return home until 1788 where he went to his farm in Braintree. He writes to Jefferson" The new government has my best wishes and most fervent prayers for its success and prosperity; but whether I shall have anything more to do with it, besides praying for it, depends on the future suffrage of freemen" Yet, he will take the job as Vice President in 1793 and writes " I am but an ordinary man. The times alone have destined me to fame." He became president on March 4, 1797.

Answer 2

After graduating from Harvard in 1755, John Adams taught school for a few years, then decided to become a lawyer. His innate contentiousness and habit of reflecting thoroughly on his readings and observations made him a natural for the job, and he made a comfortable living for himself and his family.

Adams quickly rose to public prominence as an opponent of the Stamp Act of 1765, when he was 30. He published articles in the Boston Gazette about the Stamp Act and delivered a speech before the British Royal Governor and his council stating that the Stamp Act was invalid because Massachusetts had no representation in Parliament, and English common law provided that there could be "no taxation without representation".

Adams continued to make his living as a lawyer, with a sideline as a political activist. Probably his most notable case was when he, a strong advocate of colonial rights, defended the group of British soldiers who had killed five civilians in the Boston Massacre. Adams' skill as a lawyer was evident when six of the soldiers were acquitted, due to Adams' insistence on the need for facts and certainty.

Answer 3

He was a teacher for one year and then became a lawyer....

Answer 4

a lawyer- this is wrong

he worked at the Massachusetts Bar

Answer 5

First he worked as a lawyer, then a minister to the Netherlands then to prussia, massachussets senate then us senate and president.

Answer 6

He was a lawyer and sometimes stayed home watching all 5 kids. He worked on a farm also, having 32 farm animals.