John Adams and the Difficult Work of Independence
Declaring independence takes a moment. Making it last can take years of argument, compromise, and uncertain decisions. John Adams experienced both sides of that struggle: he helped persuade the American colonies to separate from Britain, then worked to build and protect the new nation.
From colony to revolution
Adams was born on October 30, 1735, in what is now Quincy, Massachusetts. At the time, Massachusetts was a British colony, and its residents were subjects of the British king. Adams became a lawyer, a profession that trained him to examine evidence and argue cases. Those skills later served him in politics.
During the 1760s and 1770s, disagreements between Britain and its American colonies grew more intense. Britain needed money and passed laws that taxed or controlled colonial trade. Many colonists objected to being taxed by a Parliament in which they had no elected representatives. British leaders, meanwhile, expected the colonies to contribute to the costs of the empire.
- compromise:
- An agreement in which each side gives up something.
- acquitted:
- Found not guilty of a charge in court.
- delegate:
- A person chosen to represent others at a meeting.
- bondage:
- The condition of being enslaved or held without freedom.
- negotiated:
- Discussed terms with others to reach an agreement.
- amended:
- Changed through a formal process.
- malicious:
- Intended to cause harm.
- republic:
- A government in which people choose representatives to exercise political power.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How does Adams’s defense of British soldiers show that his beliefs about rights could cross political divisions?
- 2Why did declaring independence require more than simply rejecting British rule?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“John Adams and the Difficult Work of Independence” is a explanatory article reading passage about American independence, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (919 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.