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Samuel Adams

Position: Antifederalist

Samuel Adams represented the colony of Massachusetts in the signing of the constitution. Adams gathered in an antifederalist camp with Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee when the constitution was first revealed from the Constitutional Congress.
 * Massachusetts Representative **

Adams was a successful politician. He owned a large ‘alehouse fraternity’ in Boston’s Green Dragon Tavern and was John Adams’ cousin. He formed local committees of correspondence in Massachusetts, the first in Boston in 1772, to spread resistance by exchanging letters in opposition of the British. These evolved into American congresses. Adams was attempted to be captured by the British in 1775 along with John Hancock. In 1775, Massachusetts was the second most populous colony, at 11% of the total population of the 13 colonies, and Boston was the third most populous city. 90% of colonists lived in rural areas are almost all were English. Massachusetts produced iron
 * Occupation and Background **

Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin both wished to form the 1st Continental Congress and delegates soon followed in this idea when the Intolerable Acts were passed. The congress was scheduled for September of 1774 in Philadelphia. The House of Representatives chose the delegate for congress, Samuel Adams. In the 2nd Continental Congress the Olive Branch Petition was sent to Britain in a futile attempt at peace. John and Samuel Adams chose Hancock as the new congressional president.
 * Constitutional Convention **

Adams attended the convention of the delegates of the people of the commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 6, 1788. The constitution was ratified with 9 recommendations written by John Hancock and fully backed by Adams. The recommendations, allowed under Article 5 of the Constitution, proved an adequate compromise between Federalists, who wanted the Constitution voted on as it stood, and the Antifederalists, who wanted conditional amendments.
 * States Ratifying Convention **

Anti-federalists were generally from the backwoods as opposed to the federalists. Antifederalists feared a centrally strong government would force them to fully pay off their debts and steal power from commoners. Adams wanted 9 different additions to the amendments, they are as follows: 1) All powers not delegated by the Constitution are in control of each individual state. 2) One representative to every 30,000 people until there are 200 representatives. 3) Congress doesn’t change state laws governing congressional elections unless a state refuses or neglects to make regulations. 4) Congress doesn’t impose direct taxes until they have made a request to the states to asses, levy and pay their portions unless a state neglects to pay their taxes, then they may be taxed at 6%. 5) Congress cannot create companies of merchants with exclusive advantages of commerce. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6) No one can be tried and punished with an infamous punishment or punishment of death until they are indicted by grand jury, except in cases of government and naval forces. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7) Shouldn’t be involved in citizen disagreements in separate states unless it exceeds $3,000. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8) All civil actions between citizens should be tried by jury. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">9) Congress cannot consent for anyone holding office of trust or profit in the US can accept a title of nobility, or any other title of office from a king, prince or foreign state.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Constitution Arguments **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bibliography **

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">*"Constitution of the United States - A History." __National Archives and Records Administration__. 20 Sep. 2009<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fradin, Dennis Brindell. "Samuel Adams: The Father of American Independence - Dennis Brindell Fradin - Google Books." //Google Books//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://books.google.com/books?id=EQriRekKKPMC&pg=PA118&lpg=PA118&dq=samuel+adams+continental+congress&source=bl&ots=RoJnjgAn6k&sig=IQgoeo50-3bRCqgrmoFXMcZxcXA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kplSULuALYjK9QTvtoGwBA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=continental%20congress&f=false>. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. //The American Pageant//. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2010. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perkins, Edwin J.. "The Economy of Colonial America - Edwin J. Perkins - Google Books." //Google Books//. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012. <http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tfzpzllfTdAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=massachusetts+colonial+economy&ots=_p2aTylYzU&sig=fQEySVTeYuyjnY8zfo35zPRiqEU#v=onepage&q=massachusetts&f=false>.