Every apatriot, he did not support the Constitution.

Every apatriot, he did not support the Constitution.

Every so often, a man of true passion is born. A man exceedingly dedicatedto his principles, and very firm in his beliefs. Samuel Adams was such aman.

Adams was a patriot, and one of the more influential men in thecolonies. However, even as a patriot, he did not support the Constitution.How could such a patriot be an anti-federalist? Once again, it all comesdown to an issue of beliefs.Samuel Adams was born on September 27, 1722. He was the son of a successfulmerchant and malter. As a boy, he attended Boston Grammar School.

In 1736he decided to enter Harvard. It was here that he became active in colonialpolitics. He joined such clubs as the Caucus Club, which was influential innominating candidates for local office.

Here he became interested inrevolution. The subject for his Master of Arts thesis was “Whether it belawful to resist the Supreme Magistrate, if the Commonwealth cannot otherwisebe preserved.”(Brown 10). In 1740 he graduated and set off to help put anend to England’s rule over the colonies. Every so often, a man of truepassion is born. A man exceedingly dedicated to his principles, and veryfirm in his beliefs.

Samuel Adams was such a man. Adams was a patriot, andone of the more influential men in the colonies. However, even as apatriot, he did not support the Constitution. How could such a patriot be ananti-federalist? Once again, it all comes down to an issue of beliefs.Samuel Adams was born on September 27, 1722. He was the son of a successfulmerchant and malter. As a boy, he attended Boston Grammar School.

In 1736he decided to enter Harvard. It was here that he became active in colonialpolitics. He joined such clubs as the Caucus Club, which was influential innominating candidates for local office. Here he became interested inrevolution. The subject for his Master of Arts thesis was “Whether it belawful to resist the Supreme Magistrate, if the Commonwealth cannot otherwisebe preserved.

“(Brown 10). In 1740 he graduated and set off to help put anend to England’s rule over the colonies. Adams got married early in life. His first wife, however, died before theyhad spent much time together. She left him with two children. Later, hemarried for a second time.

He spent much time during this marriage at atticmeetings of the Caucus. It was here that he learned the fine points of beinga politician.Samuel first got a chance to use these skills when he was elected taxcollector of Boston in 1756. He remained tax collector for eight years.

With the help of his outspoken opposition to both the Molasses Act and tothe Sugar Act, Adams made an impression on the people of the colonies. Thisbrought him into the center of Boston’s political circle. It was then that Adams truly became involved. In 1765, he organized aformal protest against the Stamp Act. From there, Adam’s became a foundingmember of the Boston chapter of The Sons of Liberty.

This was an influentialgroup that was very opposed to British rule. Adams also led the fightagainst the Townshend Acts. This demonstration led to the Boston Massacre.He also planned and coordinated the resistance to the Tea Act, which led tothe Boston Tea Party.From 1774 to 1781, Adams represented Massachusetts on the ContinentalCongress. He was considered one of the workhorses of the Congress. Heworked on several committees, propelled by stamina, realism, and commitment(Brown 10).

Samuel was part of a radical faction that demanded strongmeasures to be taken against Great Britain. They wanted to make Britainregret imposing numerous irrelevant taxes on the colonies. With the help ofJohn Adams, he convinced the Congress to impose a nonimportation agreementagainst England. Later, he helped to draft the Massachusetts stateconstitution.Samuel Adams never attended the Constitutional Convention.

As ananti-federalist, he was strongly opposed to the Constitution. Both he andPatrick Henry boycotted the convention due to the fear of a strong centralgovernment. While the Convention was underway in Philadelphia, he was backat home speaking before the public on the faults of what was being written.A loss of personal rights was Adams main fear.

Adams favored the Articlesof Confederation, which left most of the power in the hand’s of theindividual states. With the central government having the true power, andthat power being vested in one man, Adams feared his new country would be nodifferent from his former. If his fears were correct, a strong sovereignwould have complete power.

If so, individual freedom would be null.Everything that the patriots had fought for would have been for no nought.Another fault Adams found with the Constitution had to do with the fact thatAmericans had their differences. Each state had it’s own ideas of how to runthings in order to please its citizens. Although a common culture wasshared, different regions had different needs.

Adams, along with many otheranti-federalists, turned towards Montesquieu, who said that the smaller therepublic, the more in touch the government is to the people (Patterson 40).A large central government would not please as many people as severalsmaller ones.Despite the anti-federalist protests, the states held conventions to ratifyThe Constitution. Intense conflict took place during the MassachusettsConvention. A large majority of the 355 delegates were opposed toratification. These delegates were led by Samuel Adams.

Adams gave in tothe federalists, however, due to an idea that was to his liking. It wassuggested that after the ratification, Massachusetts propose a Bill of Rightsto be included. After that suggestion was voiced, the federalists managed towin by nineteen votes. Massachusetts ratified on February 6, 1788.After the Convention, Adams worked as lieutenant governor to his closefriend, John Hancock. Samuel succeeded Hancock after his death.

He wasreelected three times before illness forced him into retirement in 1797. Hedied six years later in 1803.Was Adams a patriot even though he didn’t support the Constitution? Notsupporting it could possibly have made him an even greater patriot. Hisdesires to keep human rights lead to the Bill of Rights. Imagine Americawithout the Bill of Rights.

Samuel Adams, anti-federalist, was adistinguished patriot and important in the shaping of America.Works Cited”Adams, Samuel.” Compton’s Online Encyclopedia, downloaded from AmericaOnline, October 1, 1996″Fight for Ratification.” Compton’s Online Encyclopedia, downloaded from AmericaOnline, October 1, 1996″Adams, Samuel.” Microsoft Encarta InteractiveEncyclopedia, CD-Rom. Seatle, Microsoft1994Ammon, Harry.

“Adams, Samuel.” Groliers Electronic EncyclopediaGroliers Electronic Publishing, 1993Brown, Richard. “Samuel Adams.”The Readers Guide to American History Edition ’91pg 10Patterson, Thomas E. The American Democracy 1994New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994