JOHN ADAMS

JOHN ADAMS HISTORY LESSON

Directions:

Print the John Adams reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the story silently, then answer the questions about the story that follow.

Excerpt from passage

John Adams was a very important figure in United States History. The most important thing he was known for was being the second President of the United States. Adams served as president from 1797 to 1801. He also served as Vice-President for George Washington before he became the president.

John Adams was born October 30, 1735. He lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Quincy, Massachusetts is the name of the area he lived in today. John and Suzanna Boylston Adams were John's parents. The Adams lived on a farm. John was like many children who live on farms today. He had to do chores like milking cows, feeding horses, and chopping wood.

John was a very smart man. At school, he was a very good student. He went to private schools growing up. When he was 16 years old, he went to Harvard. Before Adams entered politics, he was a teacher by day. At night, John Adams was still a student. He studied law every evening. Some of the things he taught were Latin, History, and law. After studying law, Adams became interested in politics.

Long before John Adams became president, he married Abigail Smith. Together they had five children. They were married 55 years. They were together until Abigail died in 1818. One of the children they had, John Quincy Adams, would also become a president.

Continued...

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