He is more than just a beer! Sadly, on today’s college campuses there is a profound lack of knowledge and awareness of the greatness of the founders of our wonderful republic under God. The man is considered by many historians to be the “Father of the American Revolution” and was instrumental in making the public aware of the tyrannical actions of the king of England and Parliament. It was in his Puritan Christian home and at the Christian college of Harvard where Adams learned that the rights of life and liberty did not derive from government but from Almighty God. In his classic essay, “The Rights of the Colonists,”Adams declares in classic republican philosophical form:
“In the state of nature every man is, under God, judge and sole judge of his own rights and of the injuries done him…. The right to freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave…. These may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institutes of the great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament.”
Adams’ classic and Christian education at home and at Harvard was emblematic of our Founding Fathers classic and Christian worldview which in the 1776 Declaration of Independence declares to the world the self-evident truth that the “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God … our Creator … the Supreme Judge of the world” is the source of our life, liberty, equality and rights. (Source)
Samuel Adams strongly believed that Republican leaders had to promote virtue and values and it became his political agenda as a politician in Massachusetts. In his address to the Massachusetts legislature in 1795 when he was governor of the state he clearly addressed this issue. He worked hard during the rest of his political career to achieve this objective. He intertwined religion and politics and became known as “The last Puritan”. This solid religion obsession coupled with his more than ordinary inflexibility earned him many enemies in the following years starting with his former protégée John Hancock with whom he reconciled years later. When Hancock run for governor of Massachusetts SA did not support him, instead he supported James Bowdoin.
In 1781 Samuel Adams retired from the Continental Congress and moved back to Boston where he spent the rest of his life. Tremors in his hands and poor health made him decide he wanted to spend more time with his family in his hometown.
SA could not stay away from politics and was elected to the convention to form the state’s constitution and later as president of the Massachusetts Senate. In 1788 Sam Adams formed part of the Massachusetts ratifying convention of the newly written articles that created the new Constitution. Even though he had some reservations – you can read in his own words in a letter addressed to Richard Henry Lee – he supported the new Constitution that was ratified later that year. In his speech to the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention that that took place in February 1788 he affirms his support for the new constitution but argues that amendments would have to be made in order to limit the power of the central government. It was at this time that his only son, Samuel Adams Jr. died at age thirty-seven. He served as a surgeon during the independence war, his death gave Adams and his wife unexpected financial security.
Due to his disagreement with the new Constitution SA attempted to reenter national politics and run as a candidate for the US House of Representatives. He was defeated by Fisher Ames who was a supporter of the Constitution. Adams continued working on amendments and in 1791 the Bill of Rights was added becoming a supporter of the Constitution.
In 1789, SA was elected lieutenant governor until 1794. After the death of John Hancock, SA was elected governor and re-elected for four consecutive years.
In 1797 he retired from politics unable to write due to tremors in his hands. He died in Boston on October 2, 1803 at age 81 and is buried at the Old Granary Burying Ground. (Source)
WATCH: Lecture on Samuel Adams
History Events Related to Samuel Adams:
Samuel Adams: “While the People are Virtuous They Cannot be Subdued; but Once They Lose Their Virtue They Will be Ready to Surrender Their Liberties”
The Articles of Confederation
Delegates sign the Declaration of Independence
Samuel Adams Advocates American Independence
The Declaration of Independence Approved by Congress as 56 Courageous Signers “Pledge… Our Lives, Our Fortunes, and Our Sacred Honor.”
The Start of the Revolutionary War: The Battle of Lexington & Concord begins with the Shot Heard ‘Round the World
The Continental Association
The First Continental Congress Secretly Meets in Philadelphia to Discuss British Tyranny
4th Intolerable Act Passed: The Quartering Act of 1774
