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'''Samuel Adams''' (1722-1803) was an early [[American]] governor, lawyer and signer of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Adams was the second cousin of [[John Adams]], the second President of the United States, and was known for his great animosity toward England's presence in the colonial affairs.<ref> http://ushistory.org/declaration/signers/adams_s.htm</ref>   

'''Samuel Adams''' (1722-1803) was an early [[American]] governor, lawyer and signer of the [[Declaration of Independence]]. Adams was the second cousin of [[John Adams]], the second President of the United States, and was known for his great animosity toward England's presence in the colonial affairs.<ref>http://ushistory.org/declaration/signers/adams_s.htm</ref>   

{{cquote|'''If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.'''}}

{{cquote|'''If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.'''}}

Adams was a  strong and vocal opponent of many of the British Parliamentary acts designed to raise revenues in the American Colonies.

Adams was a  strong and vocal opponent of many of the British Parliamentary acts designed to raise revenues in the American Colonies.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

At the age of 14, Adams attended [[Harvard]] College, where he received a Masters of Arts degree in 1743. After graduating, Adams started a business which failed and then entered politics full-time, and won a place in the Massachusetts legislature.

At the age of 14, Adams attended [[Harvard]] College, where he received a Masters of Arts degree in 1743. After graduating, Adams started a business which failed and then entered politics full-time, and won a place in the Massachusetts legislature.

==Career==

==Career==

In protest of the 1765 passing of the [[Stamp Act]], Adams led in the founding and organizing of the [[Sons of Liberty]].<ref>http://www.americansonsofliberty.com/samadams.htm </ref>

In protest of the 1765 passing of the [[Stamp Act]], Adams led in the founding and organizing of the [[Sons of Liberty]].<ref>http://www.americansonsofliberty.com/samadams.htm</ref>

In 1773, Adams and Boston citizens were so outraged with England's [[Tea Act]], which granted the East Indian Company a monopoly on the sale of tea to the American Colonies, that they dumped the British cargo boats into Boston Harbor. This early revolutionary action is referred to as the [[Boston Tea Party]].

In 1773, Adams and Boston citizens were so outraged with England's [[Tea Act]], which granted the East Indian Company a monopoly on the sale of tea to the American Colonies, that they dumped the British cargo boats into Boston Harbor. This early revolutionary action is referred to as the [[Boston Tea Party]].

In response to the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed laws that closed the Boston Harbor and restricted town meetings, the act was referred to as the "Intolerable Acts". Adams urged a boycott of the British Trade by the American Colonies.

In response to the Boston Tea Party, Britain passed laws that closed the Boston Harbor and restricted town meetings, the act was referred to as the "Intolerable Acts". Adams urged a boycott of the British Trade by the American Colonies.

As a member of the [[Massachusetts]] legislature, Adams and four others were elected to serve in the [[Continental Congress|First Continental Congress]] (1774). He again served in the Second Continental Congress where he pushed for full independence from English rule. Adams served in the Continental Congress until 1781, when he returned to Boston. In 1788, Adams was a candidate for the U.S. House, but lost the election to [[Fisher Ames]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wpXzqmjp5IYC&pg=PA4 Birth of the Bill of Rights: Biographies]</ref>  In 1793, he was elected as Governor of Massachusetts and served until 1797. Adams is the oldest governor the state of Massachusetts has ever had.<ref> http://www.americansonsofliberty.com/samadams.htm</ref>

As a member of the [[Massachusetts]] legislature, Adams and four others were elected to serve in the [[Continental Congress|First Continental Congress]] (1774). He again served in the Second Continental Congress where he pushed for full independence from English rule. Adams served in the Continental Congress until 1781, when he returned to Boston. In 1788, Adams was a candidate for the U.S. House, but lost the election to [[Fisher Ames]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wpXzqmjp5IYC&pg=PA4 Birth of the Bill of Rights: Biographies]</ref>  In 1793, he was elected as Governor of Massachusetts and served until 1797. Adams is the oldest governor the state of Massachusetts has ever had.<ref>http://www.americansonsofliberty.com/samadams.htm</ref>

==Quotes==

==Quotes==

*"Constitution be never construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."<ref> A proposal that Adams made in 1788. [http://books.google.com/books?id=wwQOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA267&dq=adams+%22peaceable+citizens+from+keeping+their+own+arms%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES p 267]</ref>

*"Constitution be never construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."<ref>A proposal that Adams made in 1788. [http://books.google.com/books?id=wwQOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA267&dq=adams+%22peaceable+citizens+from+keeping+their+own+arms%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES p 267]</ref>

*"May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen! <ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/268/8/18.html  The World’s Famous Orations. America: I. (1761–1837).  1906.]</ref>

*"May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen! <ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/268/8/18.html  The World’s Famous Orations. America: I. (1761–1837).  1906.]</ref>

*"While the People are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their Virtue they will be ready to surrender their Liberties to the first external or internal Invader." - [[Samuel Adams to James Warren (February 12, 1779)]]

*"While the People are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their Virtue they will be ready to surrender their Liberties to the first external or internal Invader." - [[Samuel Adams to James Warren (February 12, 1779)]]

==See Also==

==See also==

* [[Brattle Street Church]]

* [[Brattle Street Church]]

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/founders/samuel-adams/samuel-adams-rights-of-the-free-press-and-the-right-to-bear-arms Samuel Adams on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms]

* [http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/founders/samuel-adams/samuel-adams-rights-of-the-free-press-and-the-right-to-bear-arms Samuel Adams on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms]

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{{Declaration of Independence}}

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[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[Category:Founding Fathers]]

[[category:Taxation]]

[[Category:Taxation]]

[[Category:Tax Revolts]]

[[Category:Tax Revolts]]

[[Category:Massachusetts Governors]]

[[Category:Massachusetts Governors]]