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William Smith II is born.
William Smith is Abigail's father. His parents are William Smith and Abigail Fowle. He is born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. -
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Elizabeth Quincy is born.
PictureElizabeth Quincy is born in Massachusetts. Her parents are Col. John Quincey and Elizabeth Norton. -
John Adams is born.
John Adams is born in Braintree, Massachusetts. His parents are John Adams and Susanna Boylston. He is the first born into his family of five. -
Mary Smith was born.
Mary Smith, Abigail's sister, was the first born out of four. She was born in Charelstown, Massacusetts. -
William Smith II marries Elizabeth Quincey.
They got married in Braintree, Massachusetts. -
Abigail Smith is born.
Abigail Smith is born second out of four in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Her parents are William Smith and Elizabeth Quincey. -
William Smith III is born.
William Smith III, Abigail's brother, was born third out of four in Charelstown, Massachusetts. -
Elizabeth Betsy Smith is born.
Elizabeth Betsy Smith, Abigail's sister, is born after all of her three siblings in Charelstown Massachusetts. -
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John Adams attends Harvard College.
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England adopts the Gregorian Calendar.
England adopts the Gregorian calendar, requiring an adjustment of 11 days to convert from Old to New Style. As a result, John's birthday will become October 30, and Abigail's will become November 22. -
Adams becomes a teacher.
Adams becomes schoolmaster of a grammar school for boys and girls in Worcester, Massachusetts. -
John Adams begins to keep a diary.
Adams begins keeping a diary, which by the end of his life filled four volumes. -
John begins studying law.
Adams begins his legal studies. He will be admitted to the Suffolk County Bar in Boston in 1758. -
Abigail and John Adams meet for the first time.
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End of the French and Indian War.
The Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War. England's victory establishes it as the dominant colonial power in North America. -
John Adams publishes his first newspaper articles.
He used the name "Humphrey Ploughjogger" to criticize the human nature. He used the name "U" to espouse balance between monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. -
The Proclamation of 1763
King George III signs the Proclamation of 1763, which forbids colonial expansion into the land West of the Appalachian Mountains. -
The Sugar Act is passed.
The British Parliament passes the Sugar Act. Revenue came from the taxes on imported sugar and was used for the British soldiers. In protest, Boston lawyer, James Otis, speaks the famous line, "No taxation without representation." -
John Adams marries Abigail Smith.
They got married in Weymouth, Massachusetts. -
The Stamp Act is passed.
Parliament passes the Stamp Act, the first direct tax on the American colonies. All printed material, except private correspondence and books, is taxable. -
Abigail Adams Jr. is born.
Abigail Adams Jr. is the firstborn of six. She was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. -
John Adams drafts the Braintree Instructions.
Adams drafts the Braintree Instructions for the Massachusetts legislature, a protest against the Stamp Act. It is his first foray into politics. Forty towns adopt the document, which declares taxation without representation unconstitutional. -
The Stamp Act is repealed.
The Stamp Act is repealed. Instead Parliament passes the Declaratory Act, which asserts its authority to make laws for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." The new Act goes largely unnoticed in the midst of celebrations over the repeal. -
The Townshend Acts are passed.
The Townshend Acts impose taxes on the sale of glass, lead, paper, tea, and painters' colors. -
John Quincy Adams was born
John Quincy Adams, Abigail's son, was born second of six in Braintree, Massachusetts. -
British troops sent to Boston.
In response to the protests against British taxation in Massachusetts, Parliament sends 4,000 British troops to Boston. -
Susannah Adams is born.
Susannah Adams, Abigail's daughter, is born third of six in Boston, Massachusetts. -
Susannah Adams dies.
Susannah Adams dies as a toddler in Quincey, Massachusetts. -
The Boston Massacre occurs.
The Boston Massacre occurs when British soldiers open fire on a mob and kill five colonists. John Adams defends the soldiers on the grounds that everyone in a free country deserves the right to counsel and a fair trial. -
Charles Adams is born
Charles Adams, Abigail's son, is born fourth of six in Braintree, Massachusetts. -
John Adams is elected to the Massachusetts legislature.
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Thomas Adams is born.
Thomas Adams, Abigail Adam's son, is born fifth of six in Braintree, Massachusetts. -
The Boston Tea Party occurs.
A group opposed to the tea tax ransacks three docked British ships and dumps tons of tea into Boston Harbor. -
The Intolerable Acts occur.
The Intolerable Acts are enforced in response to the Boston Tea Party and to restore order in Massachusetts. Boston Harbor is closed and a royal governor is installed. -
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The First Continental Congress
PictureJohn Adams is one of four Massachusetts delegates to attend the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, which convenes in response to the Intolerable Acts. During these times, Abigail Adams writes letters to John. He normally is asking her advice about what is going on. He is also getting information about what is going on in Boston. -
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Elizabeth Quincey dies.
PictureElizabeth Quincey dies in Weymouth, Massachusetts. -
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William Smith III dies.
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The Battle of Lexington and Concord
British troops sent to seize colonists' gunpowder clash with the minute men -- the Massachusetts militia -- in Lexington and Concord later in the day. -
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress comes together and creates the Continental Army. John Adams nominates George Washington to be its commander. His appointment is unanimous. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Abigail and John Quincy watch the cannon fire from Penn's Hill in Braintree. Britain wins but suffers terrible casualties and takes this battle as the sign that revolution has begun. -
The Olive Branch Petition
The Second Continental Congress submits the Olive Branch Petition to King George III. Opposed by John Adams, the petition pledges loyalty to England but asks that all military activity against colonists cease. The king refuses to read it. -
Common Sense is published.
Common Sense is published annonymously by Thomas Paine. The pamphlet rallies colonists to take up arms against the king. -
Remember the Ladies
Abigail sends John her "Remember the Ladies" letter, in which she asks that women's rights be considered alongside men's when new national laws are created. -
Composition of the Declaration
Congress names a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. Adams asks Jefferson to compose the document. -
Declaration of Independence
Congress formally adopts the Declaration of Independence. National celebrations begin as word of it reaches the colonies. -
The first American Flag
Congress passes the Flag Resolution, calling for a design containing 13 white stars in a blue field and 13 alternating red and white stripes. -
Elizabeth Adams is stillborn.
Elizabeth Adams was supposed to be the youngest of Abigail's six children. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. -
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French Alliance
PictureTraveling with 10-year-old John Quincy, Adams joins the joint commission in Paris, only to learn that the alliance has already been secured. When Franklin is appointed United States minister to France, Adams returns to Braintree. -
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, written by Adams, is adopted. It will serve as the -
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William Smith II dies.
William Smith II dies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. -
Independence Day
Congress makes July 4, Independence Day, an official holiday. -
The Treaty of Paris is signed
Adams, Franklin, and John Jay sign the Treaty of Paris, ending the War of Independence. -
John and Abigail reunite.
After a month-long Atlantic crossing, Abigail and Nabby arrive in Europe. On August 7, they reunite with John in London after a five-year separation. They move to Auteuil, near Paris, where Adams is serving with Franklin and Jefferson on a commission to secure commercial treaties for the new United States. -
Meeting the Royals
Adams has his first private audience with King George III. Three weeks later, Abigail and Abigail Jr. are presented to Queen Charlotte. -
Summer of 1786
John and Abigail take pleasure trips around England, a first in their marriage. -
Adamses return to MA.
John and Abigail return to Massachusetts. By July they are settled in a new home in Braintree, which Adams christens "Peacefield." -
John is elected the first vice president.
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Benjamin Franklin dies.
Benjamin Franklin dies. Philadelphia and other American cities stage lavish tributes. -
Abigail goes to Philadelphia.
Abigail joins John in Philadelphia. She despises the city and leaves for Massachusetts after six months, vowing never to return. Adams will spend much of each year during his vice presidency at home with her. -
John is reelected as vice president.
Washington and Adams are reelected for a second term. -
John is elected President.
Abigail becomes the First Lady. -
John Quincy Adams marries Louisa Catherine Johnson.
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Department of the Navy
Adams proposes the creation of the Department of the Navy. -
Abigail becomes sick.
Abigail falls ill en route to Quincy, appearing near death for a time. She recovers after several months but remains weak. -
George Washington dies.
George Washington, 67, dies at Mount Vernon. Adams calls him the nation's "most esteemed ... citizen." -
The President's House
Adams becomes the first president to live in the recently completed President's House in Washington, D.C. Abigail will join him mid-November, before the election. -
Charles Adams dies.
Charles Adams dies in New York City, New York. -
John begins his Autobiography
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The Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson's $15 million Louisiana Purchase -- 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River -- nearly doubles the nation's size. -
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Mary Smith dies.
PictureElizabeth Quincey dies in Weymouth, -
Abigail Adams Jr. dies.
Abigail Adams Jr. dies in Quincey Massachusetts. -
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Elizabeth Betsy Smith dies.
PictureElizabeth Quincey dies in Weymouth, -
John Quincy becomes Secretary of State
John Quincy begins his eight-year term as President James Monroe's secretary of state.John Quincy begins his eight-year term as President James Monroe's secretary of state. -
Abigail Adams dies.
Abigail Adams died in Braintree (now Quincey), Massachusetts. -
John Quincy Adams is elected President
Finishing second in the popular vote, but with no clear electoral college majority, John Quincy Adams is chosen president by the House of Representatives. Like his father, he will serve one term. -
John Adams dies.
John Adams dies in Quincey Massachusetts. -
Thomas Adams dies.
Thomas Adams dies in Quincey, Massachusetts. -
John Quincy Adams dies.
John Quincy Adams dies in Washington, District of Columbia.
