Q 01/05

In which Massachusetts town was John Adams born in 1735?

A) Weymouth

B) Braintree

C) Worcester

D) Salem

Answer · why

B) Braintree

He was born on the family farm; the part of town where the farm stood was later incorporated as Quincy, which is why his birthplace is now in a differ...

Q 02/05

Adams entered which college at the age of sixteen in 1751?

A) Yale

B) College of New Jersey

C) Harvard

D) William & Mary

Answer · why

C) Harvard

He studied under Joseph Mayhew and graduated in 1755, then went back for an A.M. in 1758, the year before he was admitted to the bar.

Q 03/05

Adams's father expected him to enter which profession?

A) The law

B) The ministry

C) Medicine

D) The militia

Answer · why

B) The ministry

Adams taught school for a while instead while he made up his mind, then chose the law in 1756.

Q 04/05

Under which lawyer did Adams begin reading law in 1756?

A) James Otis Jr.

B) Jeremiah Gridley

C) James Putnam

D) Joseph Mayhew

Answer · why

C) James Putnam

Putnam was a leading lawyer in Worcester and, ironically for a future revolutionary's mentor, later a Loyalist who left for Britain.

Q 05/05

How was Abigail Smith related to Adams before they married?

A) Not related at all

B) His law partner's sister

C) His third cousin

D) His childhood neighbour

Answer · why

C) His third cousin

He met her when she was 15, and her mother opposed the match; they married five years later.