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Discuss the pros and cons of John Adams's character and skills in his personal and professional life.

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John Adams was a highly intelligent and educated figure, known as the best legal mind in the colonies before the American Revolution. His successful defense of British troops in the Boston Massacre exemplifies his skill. However, his stubborn and abrupt personality often hindered his social interactions and overshadowed his accomplishments. Despite these flaws, Adams was a man of honor and virtue, contributing significantly to American independence and governance, including his presidency and relationship with Thomas Jefferson.

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In an effort to elaborate on this topic I am of the opinion that the depth of knowledge for which John Adams had is important to know to reinforce his incredible intellect along with a better understanding of his character. First, he was considered to be the best legal mind in the colonies prior to the American Revolution. The best evidence of this is his successful defense of the British Troops in Boston for having slain the colonists at what was dubbed by the papers as the "Boston Massacre." He has been described as a workaholic. This is due to his relentless researching, reading and writing on law, government and freedom. Adams' personality however was his downfall. His was a very stubborn, rash and rather abrupt person; not at all a socially adept individual. He was also for the most part always overshadowed in notoriety by his cousin Sam. However he was a man of immense honor and virtue. His character and skills, while one might look at as being at odds with one another, actually helped to make him one of the great founders of our nation. A fabulous book has been developed by Edmund S. Morgan titled The Meaning Independence in which the character and personalities of Jefferson, Washington and John Adams are investigated. I suggest you look into this work as well.

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John Adams had a great deal of knowledge, education, and self-importance. His education was Harvard law, and he was very active in the cause for American independence, including the first and second Continental Congresses. He served George Washington as vice-president, but felt the position was a waste of his skills and knowledge. As president, he had to deal with the possibility of war with France, and the XYZ affair; he was also the Chief Executive when Congress passed the notorious Alien and Sedition Acts. A breach in the relationship between Adams and the egocentric Thomas Jefferson healed over the years as the men engaged in a copious correspondence debating civil and philosophical issues. Both men died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826.

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