First Influence

“Adams probably did more than any other person to incite a break between Britain and the 13 colonies.” This statement by Student Research Gold is just one fact that supports my first influence which is “Samuel Adams worked hard to gain independence for the colonies”. After Adams Brewery business failed, he had already stated making numerous contributions for America. In January 1748, Adams published a newspaper called Independence Advertiser, which he created mainly to talk about politics. In the same year his political career began, Adams became James Otis’ partner and they worked together continuously for many years. But, even after many difficult years of devoting his life to politics, Adams’ career hadn’t really gone anywhere. Luckily for Adams, the Sugar and Stamp Acts were put in to effect by the British Parliament and he saw this as an opportunity to turn his career around.
In 1765, Adams was elected to fill the vacant seat in the colonial legislature. “For the next nine years, Adams became the leading figure in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, while he perfected a political machine.” Adams became very successful by opposing the Townshend Acts, and publishing messages that he called “Circular Letters,” which were letters arguing about how parliament did not have unlimited power. In December 1770, Adams used the incident were the redcoats in Boston begun shooting a mob of people, killing several of them, as a form of propaganda to enforce a split with Britain. Adams then called a town meeting where he demanded that the British troops in the city streets be removed from their post. He then led the group of delegates to the town council to complain about the dangers that a standing army can bring to a peaceful city.
Due to the hard work of Adams and the delegation, the British Parliament took away the Townshend Acts, and the arguments began to simmer down. But that wouldn’t stop a true Patriot like Adams. He wouldn’t be satisfied until his country had reached their goal of freedom. “Adams decided to keep matters at a full boil.” By 1772 things began heating up again, but this time Adams had a plan. He came up with the idea of all the states staying in contact with each other by committees of correspondence. Soon enough, committees began springing up all over the place including Massachusetts and South Carolina. The Tea Act soon came into effect, which led to the famous Boston Tea party. This was largely due to the contributions that Adams and his Sons of Liberty. When Parliament heard about what had happened, they issued the Intolerable Acts in 1774.
After these acts came into effect, the Americans became tired of the British Parliament controlling their country and formed the First Continental Congress. Adams was elected into the congress and was on his way to Philadelphia were the meetings were being held. “At the First and Second Continental Congresses Adams represented the state of Massachusetts by signing the Declaration of Independence, espousing immediate political separation from Britain, recommending the formation of state governments and a confederation among the new states.” After several years of hard work, Adams returned back to Massachusetts. Adams worked hard all his life, which is why he was so successful. We can all honestly say that without the contributions of Samuel Adams, America would have never been the same. From this information, you should be able to agree with my Influence on why this man was the greatest American.

<"Adams, Samuel." Student Resource Center-Gold. Gale, 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.>