Historical Reflection

Of all of the historical figures we have studied this year, including—but definitely not limited to—Presidents, philosophers, politicians, leaders, social movement-ers, and the many everyday people that have contributed to American history & culture, who would you most like to run into in college?

Describe specifically how you would interact with this person—is he/she a professor at your university? a fellow student? a leader? visiting campus? Cite at least three relevant primary sources for your quotes. If you are unsure what a primary source is, please check with me!

Out of all the historical figures I have studied this school year, I think the most interesting and most valuable character is John Adams. I think he would be a great leader in my college campus because he was a popular founding father and especially because he supported equal rights for all diversities, like he did for slaves.

He also defended the British during the Boston Massacre, which was huge because he supported that, "It is more important that innocence be protected than it is that guilt be punished, for guilt and crimes are so frequent in this world that they cannot all be punished. But if innocence itself is brought to the bar and condemned, perhaps to die, then the citizen will say, "whether I do good or whether I do evil is immaterial, for innocence itself is no protection," and if such an idea as that were to take hold in the mind of the citizen that would be the end of security whatsoever."This proved that his philosophy supported every person should have natural rights and a trial to defend themselves, if accused. This was later incorporated into the Constitution.

He also was a great intellect and once said, "Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write." I think he would encourage my school to motivate ourselves. He also believed in different types of education, and once said, "There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live."
 

Because of this, I chose John Adams as a leader of my future college because he created the building blocks for America's Constitution and laws and because he believed in a strong education.