Samuel Adams: The Most Influential Man

Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Henry Ford. One thing make these Influential people in common and it's the impact they had on America. But only one man is missing and arguably the most important man in American history, Samuel Adams. From being a student at Harvard to Planning the Boston Tea Party to sighting the Declaration of Independence, he is Clearly the most important American to ever live.

Samuel Adams was born in Boston on September 27, 1722. He was the son of Samuel Adams Sr. and Mary Fifield. Samuel Adams had eleven siblings and only two lived past their third birthday. His Father was a deacon of the Congregation Church. His was born into a wealthy family that had high expectations for him. Samuel Adams received a top notch education at the age of 14.

Samuel Adams had top notch education the best money could buy.

He attended the Boston Latin School and learned Latin and Greek. At the young age of 14, he attended Harvard College as most of the Graduates did of Boston Latin. In 1740, he received a bachelor's degree and in 1743 he received a Masters degree. Samuel Adams had many accomplishments while attending school but before he attended school and before he was born, Great Britain began coloring America in the early sixteen hundreds.

In 1607, the British colonization of the new world began in Jamestown,Virginia. The British were one of the most important colonizers of America. The colonization reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the new world. The colonies were divided into charter colonies, proprietary colonies, and royal colonies. Tension with the French more resulted in the start of the French and Indian

War.

The French and Indian War ended in 1763 after nine years of fighting. When the Peace Conference ended in 1763, England was given Canada and Florida. The removal of the French and Spanish strengthened American colonies(History). After the French and Indian War , parliament attempted to force colonist to pay a tax to contribute to the defense of the new North America (Britannia). In the following years American Colonists became angry with being taxed without their consent and a group of colonists created the Sons of Liberty to fight against these taxes.

The Sons of Liberty were an organization that was created with the purpose of protecting the rights of the colonist and to fight against taxation by the British
government. Patriot Samuel Adams is often credited for being the founder and leader of the Sons of Liberty. They rallied using petitions, assemblies and propaganda and started to gain support from colonial residence. The Sons of Liberty tried their best to grow word of their actions around the colonies and to Great Britain. The Sons of Liberty fought against multiple scenarios but one was the most important was the fight was against the stamp act.

In 1765 , the British forced a direct tax on American Colonists. The tax was put on legal documents, magazines, playing cards, newspapers, and other types of paper used throughout the colonies. When British were in debt after the French and Indian War they decided to tax the colonists to help pay it off. The colonists were very unhappy with the taxes and would start boycotts around the colony. Later the Sons of Liberty devised a plan, then in December of 1773 The Boston Tea Party occurred.

The Boston Tea Party occurred in 1773 occurred when the colonists demanded that the tea be returned to the England. Governor Thomas denied this request and Samuel Adams, leader for the Patriots, organized the “Tea Party”. He organized the Boston Tea Party with 60 members of The Sons of liberty. On December 16 ,1773 a group of Massachusetts colonists boarded the ship disguised as Indians dumped 342 chests tea into the Boston Harbor. This would later result in the start of the American Revolution.

The American Revolution lasted 8 years, 1775-1783. Tension took a violent turn when fighting between Patriot militia and British took place at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. Patriots in each of the thirteen colonies formed a Provincial Congresses and there created the Continental Army. The patriots lost the majority of the battles in the war, however the British lost more men and would later force the British to leave North America. When the war was in full swing, the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and America would be closing in on its freedom from the British.

The Declaration of Independence was signed in July of 1776. On July 4, 1776 the 13 colonies gained independence from England after over one thousand years. The Declaration of Independence was initially published as the Dunlap broadsides and was widely distributed to the public following the Congress issuing the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was created on paper and signed by John Hancock who served as President of the Congress on July 4, 1776. Two future presidents were among the signers of The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.The most well known version of the Declaration Of Independence is on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC.

Clearly, Samuel Adams was a huge role in making America into what it is today. Samuel Adams inspired the idea of Rebellion in the 13 colonies and forever will be remembered for that. After his role in the Signing of the Declaration, he would become the 3rd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and then the 4th Governor of Massachusetts. He would later pass away in 1803 forever leaving his mark on American. It's safe to say that without Samuel Adams, American would be different.