Samuel Adams: Father of the American Revolution

by Mark Puls

Winner of the 2007 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award! Samuel Adams is perhaps the most unheralded and overshadowed of the founding fathers, yet without him there would have been no American Revolution. A genius at devising civil protests and political maneuvers that became a trademark of American politics, Adams astutely forced Britain into coercive military measures that ultimately led to the irreversible split in the empire. His remarkable political career addresses all the major issues concerning America's decision to become a nation -- from the notion of taxation without representation to the Declaration of Independence. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams all acknowledged that they built our nation on Samuel Adams' foundations. Now, in this riveting biography, his story is finally told and his crucial place in American history is fully recognized.

Genres: History, Biography, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, American Revolutionary War

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2006

Reviews

[Brandon Dalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Samuel Adams: Father of the American Revolution, it is hard for me to understand why someone so integral to the founding of this nation would be seemingly better known by the popular beer that shares his name than by his works and contributions. I feel a bit ashamed now that when I was originally reading through the biographies of all of the main founding fathers, I didn’t even consider a biography on Samuel Adams as necessary in that list. After reading this book, however, I now see that its subtitle feels accurate.

Compared to other founding father biographies, this one is quite short at only 237 pages. The result is a breezy book that is easy to read, but events can feel summarized and the book feels like it is lacking a bit of spirit. Adams’ childhood is well over by only page 30, and the book focuses mainly on his political achievements and very little about his personal life. There is something missing that one feels after reading biographies like Chernow’s on Washington. With that being said, the writing here is exciting and kept me interested throughout.

Even for students of the Revolution, there is much new information here to be learned. While many other histories summarize the events in Boston during the beginning of the Revolution, here we get a zoomed in view and hear details that I haven’t read elsewhere. I knew that Samuel Adams was a leading figure in Boston during the beginning stages, but I wasn't fully aware that as the first, he “roused the continent, engineered the first boycotts, helped unite the colonies for the first time, implanted a reverence and stoked the love of liberty based on individual rights. He supplied colonists not only with the reasons to fight for their rights but with the political weapons to do battle.”

I was also surprised to learn how integral he was beyond the beginning stages in Boston through to the first Congress all the way through to the Constitution and beyond. There are quotes throughout from other founding fathers like Jefferson and John Adams that proclaim him things like “Truly the man of the revolution.” He lived long enough to see his dream come true with the independence of the country after having sacrificed everything for it.

Author Mark Puls explains that he thinks “Adams’ legacy suffers in large part because he was no longer involved in national politics by the time George Washington became the nation’s first president in 1789. [He] believed his goals had been accomplished with independence and was content to watch a younger generation step to the helm.” Perhaps this helps explain why he isn’t as well known or as talked about in schools and in other histories. I have to agree with the author though when he said, “His absence from national politics after the 1780s, however, does not diminish his unparalleled contributions to the founding of America.”

[Jay Schutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult for me to rate this book. I want to give it five stars for the contributions Adams made to the cause for American liberty, but how exciting can a biography of an eighteenth century patriot be. So four stars it is.
If there was to be a Mount Rushmore for the American Revolution, Samuel Adams would certainly be on it right along side of George Washington and anyone else you would want to be on it. He was the one who got the American colonies to start thinking about breaking away from Great Britain. With his behind the scenes letter writing, newspaper articles, oration and suggestion of pacifist resistance to King George III's rule he was the spark plug that helped form a new nation. And he did this without the want for recognition or personal gain.
Truly an unsung hero of America. This is a must read if you want to know the man who was the "Father of the American Revolution".

[Alan Tomkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patriarch of Liberty and Father of the Amendment Revolution: that was how Thomas Jefferson referred to Samuel Adams. In furtherance of Americans’ God given civil rights, Adams pioneered revolutionary strategies and tactics that split the world’s most powerful empire. This short volume (237 pages of text) expounds the reasoning of and justification for American independence. And it was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read. I give it my highest recommendation.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This book was very interesting. It was enjoyable to learn about Sam Adams and how he impacted America's independence. Also enjoyed seeing the other Founding Father's and important people as well.

Can't wait to read more biographies!!!!

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

The things I didn’t know!!! This book is incredible: exhaustively researched, wonderfully organized, well written and beyond informative!! I am astounded by how much I did not know about Sam Adams!!

Highly recommended for fans of our American history, lovers of info re: our Revolution and those who desire to know more about how this nation happened!!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

On meeting the French ambassador to America for the first time, during the American Revolution - the concern was how to be both dignified and distinct from nations with royal courts.

"The American ceremonies to receive Gerard needed to be dignified, yet not extravagant, and convey the message that congressmen were not set apart from the people they represented--the farmers and laborers, the soldiers and merchants and clergy. They were not nobles or courtiers."

I feel that has been lost in our Congress.

This book is not perfectly written. As others have noted, there are editing errors. But I don’t care, because I have a crush on the mind that was Samuel Adams. I wish and pray for political leaders who are loyal to the Constitution, rather than to party or ambition. It may be a bit of a fantasy, but no more than the Constitution itself was.

I believe it was John Adams who said that the Constitution was only fit to govern a moral people, and that Benjamin Franklin warned that we’d have to keep it. Samuel Adams was right when he believed that freedom and liberty under government was something that each generation had to prize and fight to preserve.

Our founding fathers were human and imperfect. But we have so long focused microscopically on their flaws that we have forgotten their astounding virtues.

[David Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished Mark Puls, Samuel Adams: Father of the American Revolution. A good, cradle to grave biography that comes in under 200 pages.

An early but relatively unknown founding father, known unfortunately by many as a brewer rather than a early revolutionary father.

Integral to the revolutionary movement starting in Boston, spreading throughout Massachusetts and then later through an the Colonies. He was responsible for a letter and pamphlet writing campaign and organizing committees of communication throughout the Colonies that allowed for better communication and coordination during the Stamp Act and Stamp Act Congress, the calling for the creation of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress she the Declaration of Independence.

He worked with other notable founding father James Otis, Dr. Joseph Warren, John Hancock and his cousin John Adams who he slowly worked into the revolutionary movement after being slow to become involved.

A member of the Massachusetts Assembly, the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress, and Governor of Massachusetts . Helped to write the Articles of Confederation, the Massachusetts Constitution and a early leader calling for independence from England.

Great narrative style and a worthy read.

[David Longo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plain and simple, this book stinks. "Samuel Adams" is dry and contains an unforgivable amount of typos. In fact, the author's last name, Puls, is a bit odd. I figured it was Pulls or Pulse, yet was another typo. Maybe it is. I guess I won't ever find out because I'll never take a chance on another book by him. Let the masters like Thomas Fleming, David McCollough, Ron Chernow and Joseph Ellis cover the American Revolution and its heroes.

[Zach Whitlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, quick read on the life of Samuel Adams. Although it sometimes borders on hagiography, this book nonetheless changed my views on its subject. Samuel Adams was not the raging, foam-at-the-mouth zealot as popularly depicted. He was instead grounded in logic and reason...a truly intellectual force to be reckoned with.

[Renn Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

What you find in Samuel Adams is the guts and grit it took to move a nation to independence. It took special men to forge this nation, but it was one man that sparked the burning desire to be free in the colonies, that was Samuel Adams. Great read.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Puls' Samuel Adams: Father of the American Revolution is a quick read. It provides a useful sketch of one of the Revolution's major figures--Samuel Adams.

The book takes a chronological perspective, beginning with Adams' childhood and the experiences with his father, a well regarded local businessman (including owning a malt shop) and community leader (becoming a deacon in his church and a member of the legislature).

The story continues with his education and efforts to make a life for himself. He was not overly ambitious for economic success and, after his father's death, essentially saw the family brewery go bankrupt. Nonetheless, he hustled and was able to make ends meet, although times were often tough for him and his family.

Early on, Sam Adams became discontented with aspects of the Massachusetts colony's relationship with England, the King, and Parliament. He was one of the leading agitators in the 1760s and 1770s. He was developer of several innovations, such as the Committees of Correspondence throughout the colonies, a mechanism to enhance communication across boundaries. He was involved in many of the key activities leading to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War, including urging a Continental Congress, fighting against English taxes, seeking the naming of George Washington as the general officer to lead the colonial forces in the siege of Boston. The biography continues with his role in development of the first constitution of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, as well as his part in the ratification of the Constitution itself.

This is a serviceable biography. However, it does have a couple problematic aspects. For one, the author tries to "get inside his head," making assumptions about what Adams was actually thinking. Biographies that minimize this tend to flow more smoothly, without imposing authorial assumptions onto the historical figure. For another, the biography has little critical cast on Adams. He is essentially treated so positively that one wonders if he had any peculiarities or annoying habits or made important errors. It is clear that some distrusted him mightily from other volumes; however, this does not really get discussed in any detail in this volume (although his falling out with John Hancock is addressed). The book also glosses over some important events, such as his complete turnabout on the Constitution. It portrays him as opposed to the document in the Massachusetts ratifying convention, only to turn around and support it. The author provides little discussion to explain this volte face.

In the final analysis, though, this is a useful biography of one of the colonial leaders who worked hard to move the colonies toward independence.

[Joseph Serwach · Rating 4 out of 5]

If King George III had a writer as skilled as Samuel Adams on his side we might have learned that the 13 American colonies were only being asked to pay for a mere third of the costs of providing troops to protect them from foreign invasion and administer their lands, that every bit of those taxes would be spent in America for American colonists
We might have learned that these tiny taxes were a fraction of the money spent to win the French-Indian War and make America part of the greatest empire since the Roman Empire.
Instead we have memorized arguments that Samuel Adams made more than a full decade BEFORE the American Revolution when most Americans and British subjects weren't paying much attention: that taxation without representation is wrong, that taxes slow and threaten economic growth (he made that argument 13 years BEFORE Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations).
"Put and keep the enemy in the wrong,'' Adams argued.
In 1764, Samuel Adams was working with British business people, trying to influence their views on the first proposed taxes on colonists. In 1765, more than a decade before the Declaration of Independence, he wrote how men were "unalienably entitled to those essential rights in common with all men: and that no law or society can, consistent with the law of God, and nature, divest them of those rights.''
Adams also developed the first boycotts a full century before Charles C. Boycott popularized the idea in Ireland in the 1880s. He formed political clubs where his ideas were discussed and spread 250 years before social media. His critics derided these clubs as "caulkers' clubs" and from that phrase, the term "caucus'' evolved to describe political meetings.
Adams framed the debate, changing the narrative from discussions of the Sugar Act, a small tax to making it a civil rights matter. He wrote of revolution and freedom from Great Britain long before the other, younger Founding Fathers. He basically invented public relations and political activism and showed how to move the needle to change the public agenda.
His younger cousin, President John Adams, wrote "Without the character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written. For fifty years his pen, his tongue, his activity, were constantly exerted for his country without fee or reward. During that time he was almost an incessant writer.''

[Heith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Puls's biographical sketch of the Patriarch of the American Revolution is a worthwhile read, not a particularly difficult read, and takes any student of history on a manageable journey through Adams' efforts to spur the American revolution and jolt the American populace out of complacency when necessary. As far as it goes, it is worth your time.

As a student of English, however, I cannot help but echo the concerns of many other reviewers who came before me: Puls's biography is riddled with typos. Sometimes words are obviously switched, which is odd, some are missing the last letter ("know" where it should be "known"), and in one case, a reference to "June 31," which doesn't exist at all. Should it be June 30, or should it be July 31? We've no way of finding out.

One has to assume the history behind the book is accurate, but given the clerical errors we have found, one worries a little about those we haven't found that have possibly misled us on the historical front.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never realized how invloved Samuel Adams was in the start of the US. It's frustrating that few history books recognize him as one of our founding fathers when he was practically the one who started the Revolution armed with his pen. Why isn't Samuel Adams on the front of the hundred dollar bill when most of his adult life was devoted to making America a country of its own seperate from England? I can only guess that he isn't as well known because he never cared to be famous or powerful.

Though the writing is nothing original I found this book very informative and enjoyed it. I suggest it to anyone who would like to know more than our school textbooks tell us about the start of our country.

[Al Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father of the American Revolution and American Liberty. Most people only know the name Samuel Adams as a brand of beer, but the Samuel Adams of the revolution was not much of a brewery. He was a proponent of freedom, liberty and Independence. Long before Patrick Henry said "give me liberty or give me death", before Thomas Jefferson wrote that immortal first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, before Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense - Samuel Adams was writing about the rights of man, educating Americans on the ideas of John Locke and others of the enlightenment. Samuel Adams needs to be remembered and this book is a great place to start.

[Chmbrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing man! A patient, persevering patriot. This book gave me hope because I learned that there were just as many morons in his time as there are now and we just need quiet, tireless leaders like Sam with real convictions and morals to work behind the scenes to right the ship. It's too bad that most Americans only know him for his beer since that was definitely NOT something that he was good at. Without him, we'd still be British subjects. He has made his way onto my hero list (right below George and very close)!

[Stephen Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful window into Samuel Adams, whose contributions (that is, he kinda started the whole thing) get obscured by John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

Unfortunately, despite having gone through a major publishing house's line editing and proofreading, there are a plethora of typos sprinkled throughout. Makes me feel a lot better about the ones that made it through to print in my own book.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about the "Patriarch of Liberty." The influence and involvement Adams had in the American Revolution goes largely unnoticed. Maybe he wanted it that way... I don't know. I do know he was a great man and all Americans are indebted to him. He deserves more adoration as a founding father than he receives.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff about Sam Adams who didn't really get his due because he didn't leave behind a trove of his papers/strategies etc... Great reading about his strategies in defying the British on the Stamp Act, his committee-of-correspondence networks, influence as a writer...

[Joseph Wycoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puls presents a journalistic account of Samuel Adams and his unequaled contributions to “the cause of American freedom” leading to an independent America. In contrast to traditional historical treatments of Adams, Puls shines light on the political genius that turned conflicts over stamps and tea into democratic principles for a new nation: “It was thanks to the decade-long efforts and writings of Samuel Adams that the colonists were already grounded in the ideas in the Declaration. They were not unfamiliar with concepts concerning 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' and rights endowed by their creator” (185). In many respects, Samuel Adams was the first community organizer. He cultivated committees of correspondence that enabled the leaders of the thirteen colonies to act in concert as an organized resistance engaged in boycotts and other nonviolent acts of civil disobedience to the British Parliament and monarchy. Adams' most impressive trait was the ability to transform what most regarded as legislative overreach or administrative missteps into abuses of state power: “Whoever, therefore, insinuates notions of government contrary to the constitution, or in any degree winks at any measures to suppress or even to weaken it, is not a loyal man” (30). The small 'c' constitution to which Adams refers is not a written constitution or settled form of government, but the basic human right of a people to organize conventions to form governments or defend their common interests: “Is not the whole sovereignty, my friend, essentially in the people?...That the sovereignty resides in the people is a political doctrine which I have never heard an American politician seriously deny” (224). With this guiding political principle, Adams led efforts to form the Continental Congress, write the Declaration of Independence, and adopt the Articles of Confederation during the American Revolution. While not a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, in Massachusetts he supported ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the passage of the Bill of Rights. He later favored Thomas Jefferson over John Adams (his second cousin), the Federalist party, and any who endeavored “to exalt themselves & their family upon the ruins of the common liberty” (214). It may be said that Samuel Adams anticipated the state of American politics in the centuries to follow: “The same tragedies have been acted on the theatre of the world, the same arts of tormenting have been studied and practiced to this day; and even religion and reason united have never succeeded to establish the permanent foundations of political freedom and happiness in the most enlightened countries on the earth” (224). His solution was to set an example as a tireless public servant who sacrificed his private affairs and wealth for his constituents and country: “It is an unspeakable consolation to an actor upon the public stage, when, after the most careful retrospect, he can satisfy himself that he has had in his view no private or selfish considerations, but has ever been [guided] by the pure motive of serving his country, and delivering it from the rapacious hand of a tyrant” (177-78). Puls' biography restores an enlightened perspective on the compassion, ingenuity and resilience of Samuel Adams—the man known to his contemporaries as “The Father of the American Revolution.”

[Steve A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the writing was aimed at freshman HS level, but it made for a relatively quick read and I learned quite a lot. Having read biographies of Jefferson, Hamilton, John Adams and other revolutionary war pieces, I am now more aware of the lack of significant mention in any of those of Samuel Adams. The guy was literally the father of the revolution having thought that independence was something that was a "must" back in 1764! And unlike many of the other figures of that time, he was not a successful lawyer, farmer or business man. Nor was he particularly well educated. But he had a way about him and his "backroom" negotiations and pure courage, in the face of English threats was pretty amazing. I come away with a new appreciation for this place in US History. Jefferson was likely right, without Samuel Adams, the USA wouldn't likely exist.

[Robert Conder · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who want to know about the road to the Revolutionary War, should read this book. We do not know enough about Samuel Adams and his work that brought about the Revolutionary War. This book shows us what he did and what he believed. He was the first to believe we needed to be independent and he held true to his principles, many today could learn from him. I recommend this book for all who want to know the story of a true patriot.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book covers an often overlooked character of the American Revolution. The book doesn’t dig too deep, but this could be due, as the author states, to Samuel Adams refusing to save correspondence for posterity.

While this could be a good intro on Samuel Adams, this book is full of typos and the organization of chapters is odd, leading to whole paragraphs that feel like non sequiturs. These issues were too numerous for me to fully enjoy the book.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author pointed this out. There are a lot of funding fathers never mentioned in school history books. He said Samuel Adams is one of them. Puls is wrong. Samuel Adams is an iconic founding father.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

[John Bohnert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this biography of Sam Adams to be very engrossing.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book wasn't in depth at all, just certain events listed, kind of like a history book. I will find another book to read about Samuel Adams.

[Mike Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I had no idea of the struggles Sam Adam’s experienced in his personal life. This book will make you thankful for the Sons of Liberty

[Michael Lahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most readable book on a revolutionary American, still Sam Adams was front and center to The Cause.

[Zachary Hadsell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know how to describe this biography other than to say it felt rushed. It is evident that Puls wants to capture all the highlights in Adams’ life, but he tends to rush his way through each event without taking time to analyze or provide much context along the way. It reads more like a series of facts centered around Adams rather than a biography of the man himself.

As he rushes through the events, he also tries to squeeze in one or two sentences that try to have some momentous emotion, but they fall flat and seem out of place as compared to the rest of his writing style.

Puls tends to fall into an easy trap as a biographer of praising Adams in every occasion and ascribing almost every event in the Revolution as something that was done either directly or indirectly by Adams. It got to the point of annoyance, much like the Greek grandfather in My Big Fat Greek Wedding claiming that Windex got its origins from Greece.

Still, it serves as an okay source for learning about the events in Boston that led to revolution.