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John Adams

10 items

John Adams: Thoughts on Government | Primary Source Close Reads Explained
Video

Video

11 Min

What is the purpose of government? In this episode of Primary Source Close Reads Explained, Kirk examines John Adams’ ‘Thoughts on Government,’ written in April 1776, just before the Declaration of Independence. In it, Adams explores what type of government is best and how happiness can be ensured through it. According to Adams, how do we form the best kind of republic? What is the key to its success? Were these ideals on government included in the Articles of Confederation, or the US Constitution?
11 Min
The Boston Massacre
Essay - 2367 Words

Essay

2367 Words

How did the Boston Massacre impact the American colonies?
John Adams and the Boston Massacre Trial
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

45 Min

This lesson will help students understand the virtue of justice in order to apply justice in their own lives.
45 Min
Tony Williams: The Boston Massacre & Justice | BRI Scholar Talks
Video

Video

26 Min

BRI Senior Program Education Specialist Mary Patterson sits down with BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams to talk aboutthe tumultuous rebellion against tyranny that led to the dramatic events of the Boston Massacre. They examine the role of propaganda in the patriot movement and the constitutional principles of justice and rule of law in the trial of the British soldiers due to the courageous moral stand of their defense attorney, John Adams, for a fair trial.
26 Min
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 3472 Words

Essay

3472 Words

Why did the colonists declare independence from Britain?
Alien and Sedition Acts XYZ Affair
John Adams and the Alien and Sedition Acts
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

50 Min

John Adams was not a “War President”: he did not lead the country through war as Commander in Chief. However, much of his administration was devoted to avoiding war. The 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts, viewed then by some and now by most as a serious challenge to the First Amendment, were signed into law by Adams, who maintained that “national defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.” He did not ask for the controversial sedition law that limited freedom of speech and press, but believed, as Congress did, that provisions facilitating the deportation of foreign nationals and the discouragement of newspaper dissent would help strengthen the United States in the event of war with France. Adams achieved his goal of keeping the US out of war, but history has condemned his decision to sign and enforce this series of laws.
50 Min
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, 1798–1799
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
The XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War with France
Essay - 2052 Words

Essay

2052 Words

Explore what the Quasi-War was and its impact on the U.S.
A cartoon depicting a fight between two people, while surrounding people watch.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Essay - 2501 Words

Essay

2501 Words

Did the Alien and Sedition Acts violate the First Amendment?
Reading the Sedition Act of 1798 | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI
Video

Video

30 Min

In the first installment of this two-part close reading on Sedition Acts, BRI staff members Joshua Schmid and Tony Williams discuss the highly controversial Sedition Act of 1798, which arrived at a particularly tumultuous time in American history. In light of growing diplomatic tension between the United States and France, President John Adams and the Federalists feared that if war were to ultimately break out, the Jeffersonians would be disloyal towards America​. For this reason, the Sedition Act severely limited people’s ability to freely and publicly criticize the American government. Join Tony and Joshua as they explore the important constitutional implications of this first Sedition Act for the young republic!
30 Min