Index John Adams' Vision Throughout His Life John Adams' Effect on AmericaHow Historians View John Adams"Freedom, once lost, is lost forever" . As one of the founding fathers, John Adams played a very important role in America's journey to freedom and its beginning as a country. As the second president, many expected great things from this Massachusetts native, even if he would come to disagree with and avoid confrontation with most of his political colleagues. Adams had a chance to do many great things for this country and had many brilliant ideas that could have increased his approval ratings, but because of his cowardice and arrogance many did not think he was fit for re-election. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Vision of John Adams Throughout His Life Born in the town of Braintree (Quincy), Massachusetts, Adams grew up in a comfortable Christian home. His father was a deacon of the Congregational Church, as well as a shoemaker and farmer. John enjoyed the outdoors and found himself regularly skipping school to go fishing or hunting. While attending school, he excelled in his studies and was accepted into Harvard at just fifteen years old. A very successful young man, Adams taught in Worcester, Massachusetts, at a Latin school to earn money for his law school tuition. His very determined and driven attitude would help him become a successful lawyer and politician, but as he advanced in his presidency, he became more cocky and selfish, no longer caring what others think. Even though his arrogance was a poor quality, Adams used it to his advantage despite the hatred it brought him. During the early stages of the American Revolution, John Adams found himself trapped in an uncomfortable situation. The British soldiers responsible for the Boston Massacre were facing trial, and no lawyer in New England would represent them. He had the choice to go against his colonial neighbors and represent these soldiers or to go against his belief in due process for all human beings. John Adams' cousin and founding father, Samuel Adams, had strongly advised against working for soldiers. Stating that it could potentially ruin his career and make every man in the American colonies despise him. The trial was a crazy stunt by Adams, but it ultimately gained him a larger following due to his belief that everyone deserves a fair trial. John Adams' Effects on America John Adams thought highly of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, stating that he never thought he would be recognized as they had been. Washington and Franklin, two of America's greatest contributors to this nation's freedom, could not have done it without men like John Adams. A lawyer, diplomat, president, and critical member of the Continental Congress, Adams provided insights and strategies for the country's fate. As a Federalist, he was closer to Washington than many others during Washington's presidency, gaining much political influence over his future presidential candidates. Stated by Ferling (1994) “Adams sent intelligence to Congress, reporting on British morale, Britain's diplomatic isolation in Europe, the state of the French economy, and Versailles' attachment to the American cause. He assessed France and British naval strength, correctly warned that Spain would soon go to war against Great Britain, accurately informed Congress that America had few.