The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

A convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies, the Continental Congress became the governing body of the US during the American Revolution. Schiff details how the Congress deliberated and acted on various issues from military appointments and foreign alliances to the eventual decision to declare independence. The text depicts Adams’s involvement in the Congress as vital, since his ideological rigor and political savvy influenced key debates and decisions. Schiff’s account highlights how Adams’s persistent advocacy for a break from Britain helped steer the Congress toward adopting the Declaration of Independence despite considerable opposition and uncertainty.

The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of British rule in July 1776. Schiff contextualizes the Declaration within the broader context of resistance in which Adams played a role, from the Stamp Act protests to the Boston Tea Party. His push for colonial rights and self-governance framed the ideological underpinnings that, as stated in the Declaration, justified independence. Schiff presents the Declaration as a culmination of years of political agitation and philosophical development, much of which Adams helped spearhead.

The presence and perspectives of Loyalists represented a significant internal challenge to the revolutionary cause, which Schiff explores to underscore the complexities of the period. Loyalists, whom Patriots often ostracized or targeted, held diverse reasons for their allegiance to Britain, ranging from economic benefits to ideological commitments to the crown. Schiff examines how Adams dealt with Loyalists not only as political adversaries but also as part of the societal fabric of the colonies. His strategies ranged from attempts at persuasion to more coercive measures, reflecting the contentious and sometimes violent struggle to define American loyalty and identity during the Revolutionary War. The terms Loyalists and Patriots contribute to illustrating the divisive and often personal nature of the conflict, which impacted communities and even families across the colonies.

In response to various taxes and trade restrictions imposed by the British Parliament, American colonists collectively made non-importation agreements to boycott British goods. Schiff presents these agreements as strategic tools that by Adams and other leaders wielded to forge colonial solidarity against British economic policies. The text explores how these agreements served not only as direct economic pressure tactics but also as symbols of colonial resistance and unity. By championing these agreements, Adams helped politicize everyday commerce, turning personal buying choices into acts of political resistance and fostering a widespread, communal commitment to the revolutionary cause.

During the American Revolution, republicanism encapsulated the belief in a government as a public matter (res publica), focusing on the common good and rejecting the hierarchies associated with monarchy and aristocracy. Schiff details how Adams’s adherence to republican principles guided his vision for an independent America, where government would be based on the consent of the governed, emphasizing liberty, and the civic duty of all citizens. Adams’s writings and speeches often invoked these ideals, aiming to rally his fellow colonists to the cause of independence and to shape the emerging political ideology of the new nation. His advocacy for these principles influenced the democratic ethos of the US.

A secret society initially formed to oppose the Stamp Act, the Sons of Liberty quickly expanded its activities as a force opposing all forms of British taxation and control. Schiff emphasizes the role of the Sons of Liberty in mobilizing public opinion and orchestrating protests like the Boston Tea Party. Under the leadership of Adams and other key figures, the Sons of Liberty became emblematic of the ability to transform colonial dissent into active resistance. Schiff portrays this group as crucial in the fight for American rights and liberties, showcasing how its bold actions captured the public’s imagination and precipitated direct confrontations with British authority.

A law passed by the British government in 1765, the Stamp Act required the use of stamped paper for legal documents, publications, and playing cards, essentially imposing a direct tax on the colonies. Throughout the book, Schiff discusses this act as a catalyst for Adams’s rise to prominence in the revolutionary movement, illustrating how it galvanized the widespread colonial opposition and protest activities that Adams led.

Passed by the British Parliament in 1767, the Townshend Acts were a series of measures that taxed goods imported to the American colonies. The book shows how these acts intensified colonial resistance and helped Adams foster continued opposition through written protests and coordinated boycotts. Schiff frames these acts as essential to understanding the escalation that led to revolutionary actions.