A genius at devising civil protests and political maneuvers, Samuel Adams forced Britain into coercive military measures that ultimately led to America's irreversible split from the empire. He was behind nearly every major protest over British rule, and his pioneering tactics of civil disobedience outfoxed the leading ministers in England. Adams was the most influential political writer in colonial America and he used this power to guide Americans toward independence. His remarkable political career progressed hand in hand with America's decision to become a nation and his mark can be seen on all the major issues that ensued, from the notion of no taxation without representation to the Declaration of Independence. Patriots who later became U.S. Presidents -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams -- all acknowledged that they built the nation upon Adams' tremendous achievements. Now, in this biography, Adams' story is told in full and his crucial role in American history is finally restored. Mark Puls breathes new life into Adams' legacy, showing that the values he instilled continue to define America today. - Jacket.