John Adams

Hello! My name is John Adams. I was born on a farm in a town called Braintree, Massachusetts, on October 30th, 1735. While my family were farmers, I always preferred having my nose in a book! I loved to read and learn about everything in the world. I spent hours reading about history and how rules were made to keep people safe and happy. Because I loved learning so much, I decided that when I grew up, I would become a lawyer. That way, I could use my love of reading and my knowledge of rules to help people and make sure everyone was treated fairly.

As I got older, I saw that the American colonies where I lived were being ruled by Great Britain, a country far across the ocean. Many of us felt their rules were unfair because we didn't get to help make them. I believed we should be free to make our own rules for our own land. I wasn't alone. I met with other leaders who felt the same way, like my friend Thomas Jefferson. We talked for hours about how to create our own country. In 1776, our hard work led to something very important. I helped write a special paper called the Declaration of Independence. It was like a big letter to the world that said, 'We are going to be a new, free country called the United States of America!'

After we won our freedom, our new country needed leaders to help it grow strong. I was proud to help my friend George Washington when he became the very first president. I served as his vice president, which meant I was his main helper. Then, in 1797, the American people chose me to be the second President of the United States. It was a very big and important job to lead our new nation. During my time as president, something very exciting happened. I got to be the very first president to live in a brand new home built just for presidents in a city called Washington, D.C. You know that special home today as the White House!

I lived a very long and full life, helping to build our new nation from the very beginning. From speaking out for freedom to leading the country as president, I always worked for what I believed in. I lived to be 90 years old. Today, I am remembered as one of America's Founding Fathers. My work helped make sure the United States would be a country where people could be free and have a voice in how they are governed, and that's something I will always be proud of.