Ep. 113 – Rise of a Revolutionary Leader

In the lead up to the American Revolution, John Adams went from prominent attorney to leader of the American Revolution. In this episode, found out how it all happened!

The death of Jeremiah Gridley and the illness of James Otis led the way for John Adams to become one of the most prominent lawyers in Boston. 

House of Representatives’ Answer to Gov. Hutchinson IV

John Adams and the Boston Tea Party

Listen to our episode on the Boston Tea party! 

John Adams and the First Continental Congress

John Adams on the Lee Resolution that started the move for independence

John Adams on the Declaration of Independence

Ep. 112 – Abigail Adams

We can't talk about the life of John Adams without talking about his wife, Abigail. They were a team! This episode introduces Abigail Adams.

Growing Patriots · Ep. 112 – Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. 

She was born here, in this 17th-century saltbox-style home. It's a museum now!

If it wasn't for Boston watchmaker Richard Cranch, John and Abigail might never have met! 

He married Abigail's sister, Mary. Mary Cranch also had some things to say about politics! 

Abigail and John Adams were married by her father in his church – First Church in Weymouth. 

The couple had six children, including:

Nabby 

John Quincy

Charles

Thomas Boylston

While John Adams was away building a new nation, Abigail was not only keeping things on track at home – she was making things even better. 

One reason we know so much about the lives of Abigail and John Adams is because of their letters, which show a relationship of respect and love. 

Here are some coloring pages for while you listen to this episode!

Find this coloring page here

Find this one here

Ep. 111 – Early Life & Legal Career of John Adams

John Adams grew up in a colonial Massachusetts that was rapidly becoming a hotbed of revolution. Find out how his early life, education, and legal career prepared him to be a Founding Father of the new nation to come.

 

The iconic full-length portrait of John Adams is a 1783 masterpiece by the American painter John Singleton Copley. It is housed with his alma mater, Harvard, at the Harvard University Portrait Collection.

The house in which John Adams was born – learn more about it here.

His parents were John Adams senior and Susanna Boylston. His great grandfather Henry Adams came to Massachusetts in 1638.

He attended a dame school where his education was centered on the New England Primer. 

Then, he went on to the Braintree Latin School where his teacher was Joseph Cleverly – who he didn't really like. At 14, his father hired a teacher that inspired him much more – Joseph March. That is who prepared him for Harvard. 

At Harvard, John Adams lived in Massachusetts Hall, the oldest surviving building on the Harvard campus.

Founding Fathers Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, and James Otis also lived there throughout the years. 

He then went on to study law with John Putnam before his master's thesis in 1758. 

He became a lawyer in 1759.

In this letter dated 28 July 1821, 86-year-old John Adams recalls his impressive education in a letter to Judge Thomas Dawes.

Learn about his famous cousin, Samuel Adams

John Adams fought against the Stamp Act. He wrote the Braintree Instructions which were popular across Massachusetts. 

One of his first big, public splashes was defending the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre. 

Related episodes:

The Stamp Act

The Boston Massacre

110 – George Washington's Presidency and Later Life

After the revolution, George and Martha Washington were ready to retire at Mount Vernon. But the American people had different plans for the Washingtons.

If you're interested in this period of Washington's life, you should also listen to this episode!

The Washington Family 1789-1796 by Edward Savage

When the Articles of Confederation were falling apart, George Washington joined the Constitutional Convention work on fixing them!

Then, it was time to put the Constitution into effect. With a president!

He set up the first ever presidential cabinet

And the first Supreme Court

He gave the first State of the Union speech.

He was ready to go home (again) but was elected president (again).

This time, he had to deal with the Whisky Rebellion. 

When he finally retired in 1796, he gave a farewell address that is still recreated today. 

And he got to work at Mount Vernon at last.

He also got his affairs in order for when he passed away.. 

...Which then happened in 1799.

Martha followed in 1802. 

109 - George Washington the Politician and Military Leader

In the latest episode of Growing Patriots Podcast, we’re getting to the George Washington most of us know — as a politician and military leader.

George Washington by Charles Willson Peale, 1776. WH Historical Foundation.

This episode goes into:

• The First Continental Congress 
  

• and the Second Continental Congress
  

• Washington being named commander of the Continental Army — and how he reacted
  
  

• His time leading the military in the American Revolution — and how his leadership and grit held things together against all odds

• What happened after Yorktown — and how he stopped a rebellion

• The Treaty of Paris which officially ended the war — and why resigning his military commission was a great show of strength

And all he wanted once the war was over was a private life. 

 Of course, that didn’t mean that’s what Americans wanted. 

 And that’s what we will talk about in the next episode.