Book Review: Samuel Adams: Father of the American Revolution by Mark Puls
Mark Puls begins his biography of Samual Adams by stating that history seems to have left Adams as the forgotten Founding Father, with his role either being forgotten or dismissed as being a mere rabblerouser. He wrote this book with the intent to correct that impression to show how important he was to the American cause, even going so far as to argue that without him, there would have been no American Revolution.
Puls is correct that many people dismiss his role. Most Americans likely know him as "that beer guy" or are vaguely aware of him having something to do with the Boston Tea Party. I gave him a little more credit, being aware of his role in building the coalition in Boston that helped give birth to the Revolution.
Even I underestimated the extent to which Adams was responsible for the Revolution. Puls makes clear that Adams was likely the first to recognize that England and the colonies were on a collision course that could only result in independence or enslavement for the colonies, and he did all in his power to prevent slavery. He not only organized a political movement in Boston to resist the British taxation and regulation, but helped create it across the colonies so that all Colonists could be made aware of what happening in Boston and what would likely happen to them if they allowed the movement in Boston to be defeated.
Far from a mere rabblerouser, Adams put together arguments drawing from British history and philosophy showing how the British were violating the rights they claimed to uphold, boxing them into a political corner, earning the colonies many supporters in Parliament. (Not enough to hold war, unfortunately.) Many of his arguments ultimately appeared in the Declaration of Independence.
This is a book that should be read by all who are interested in the founding of America, as it gives great detail into a vastly under-appreciated Founding Father.