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Samuel Adams, a la Shmoop.

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There are a handful of early Americans whose names are still known by everyone.

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One of these was the controversial Samuel Adams.

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But why was Adams so controversial?

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Is it just because of his beer? Not that you would know anything about it…

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Good ol’ Samuel was often in the company of his cousin, John Adams.

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They were usually called the “Adams Brothers,”

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mainly because people misunderstood how to read family trees.

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While he was a good politician, Sam was not the world’s greatest businessman…

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…and, ironically, a bad brewer.

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He started his career as a tax collector for the Brits…

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…but used the job as a way to expose British corruption.

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Knowing all the movers and shakers in Boston, he got elected to the Massachusetts Assembly in 1765.

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It was there that he was the first person to propose the idea for the Continental Congress.

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When the Congress formed, Sammy was one of its first members…

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…and became a fiery advocate for rebellion.

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He pushed the Congress into issuing a pretty important document.

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Maybe you’ve heard of it.

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He also pushed for the formation of the United States as a Republic.

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He even helped write “The Articles of Confederation”, a prequel to the Constitution.

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Even with all the positive things Adams did, he’s a controversial figure today.

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Some historians believe he was a forward thinking patriot.

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To others, he was a rabble-rouser who used propaganda to push people to violence.

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What do you think? Was Adams ahead of the curve?

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Or did he just like pulling people’s strings?

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Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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