Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Samuel Adams: Patriot and Statesman
Nonfiction Series
For ages 12 and up
Compass Point Books, 2005 ISBN: 978-0756508234
Though Samuel Adams' father was a successful businessman, Samuel did not inherit his father's skills. Samuel was more of a reader and a thinker than a young man who would do well in the business world. One thing he did pick up from his father however was an interest in public life and in 1746, when he was just twenty-four years old, Samuel got his first job as a public servant. This was just the beginning of what would be a lifetime of work in politics.
Samuel quickly developed his interest in the political goings on in his city and in his colony. The political situation in Massachusetts, and in Boston, was becoming more and more disturbed as the colonists found themselves in conflict with the British crown. King George, to help pay for his wars, was determined to tax his American colonists. The colonists, in turn, became more and more determined not to pay the taxes unless they had a say in their government.
Samuel Adams was one of the men who worked tirelessly to fight the injustices that he deplored. At times his very life was in danger and yet he did not give up. He felt it was his duty to do what could to make life in America better for his family and for his fellow citizens.
In this Signature Lives title, Michael Burgan explores the life and the work of Samuel Adams. He provides his readers with plenty of background information so that they can better understand what was happening in America during Samuel Adams' lifetime. The events which took place in this period in American history are complex, and yet Michael Burgan finds a way to make his description easy to follow and interesting.
This is just one is in a series of well written, thoughtfully presented biographies about people of importance in world history.