John Adams Defends the Boston Massacre

As an attorney and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Adams took on the case of defending the British soldiers that fired on the mob in Boston. He said, if we let the mob rule, we're doomed. Not only does John Adams defend them, but he, he wins their acquittal by way of the rule of law. Now has to go talk to the Barbary pirates who have enslaved American sailors that they take on a ship. In North Africa. That's the way they did things. They kidnapped a bunch of people, they dealt in hostages,. The very rule of law is based on certain respects for each other; it is the opposite of letting a mob decide what goes on.