The Adams Chronicles

Follow four generations of the Adams family and 150 years of American history in this Emmy® Award-winning PBS mini-series about early America's most influential family. You'll meet John Adams - passionate revolutionary and second president; John Quincy Adams - proud son and sixth president, historian Henry Adams, and more. Based on the family's personal diaries and letters, The Adams Chronicles helps you understand the men as husbands, fathers, brothers and sons, as well as leaders.

Chapter I: John Adams, Lawyer - John Adams centers his ambitions on two goals: becoming a lawyer of repute and marrying Abigail Smith. But as his family and profession prosper, taxes from Britain cause tumult in Boston. He embraces the patriotic cause even as he agrees to defend the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.

Chapter II: John Adams, Revolutionary - John returns to Braintree after successfully defending the Redcoats, but Hancock soon lures him back into politics. Elected to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, John struggles with separation from Abigail and the continued reluctance of the colonial delegates to declare independence from Britain.

Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat - Serving as a diplomat in France with Benjamin Franklin, Adams earns a reputation for rudeness while Franklin becomes a beloved celebrity. He splits with Franklin and decamps to Holland, where he meets with greater success. Adams helps negotiate the Treaty of Paris, ending the war.

Chapter IV: John Adams, Minister to Great Britain - After nearly five years of separation, John's family joins him in Great Britain, where he has been appointed America's first ambassador. Adams lobbies fruitlessly to improve trade relations with Britain before finally returning to America.

Chapter V: John Adams, Vice President - While Adams acts as America's first vice president, the nation becomes embroiled in the war between France and Britain. As the government fractures into political parties led by Jefferson and Hamilton, Adams finds himself opposing his longtime friend.

Chapter VI: John Adams, President - War rages in Europe and warring factions threaten Adams's presidency. He feuds with Jefferson, his Cabinet is under Hamilton's sway, and the public clamors for a war with France that the country cannot afford. Adams walks a diplomatic tightrope that saves the nation from war but costs him a second term.

Chapter VII: John Quincy Adams, Diplomat - Reserved and cool-headed, John Quincy Adams bears little resemblance to his father except in his political prowess. After spending years as ambassador to Russia, he becomes an instrumental force in brokering the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812.

Chapter VIII: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State - As Secretary of State, Adams expands U.S. territory to the Pacific and drafts the Monroe Doctrine. But when the next election yields no outright winner, rumors abound that he made a deal with Clay to secure the presidency. Meanwhile, his sons George and John fall in love with the same woman.

Chapter IX: John Quincy Adams, President - Hampered by negative press from Jackson's camp, Adams's single term is marked by frustrated efforts to institute national improvements. His personal life also suffers, with the family in debt, his sons at odds, and his wife increasingly estranged, culminating in the mysterious death of his eldest son.

Chapter X: John Quincy Adams, Congressman - Adams wins a seat in the House, where he serves with more success than he had as president. During his 17 years in office, "Old Man Eloquent" introduces anti-slavery legislation, advocates for the Amistad defendants, and tirelessly protects civil liberties.

Chapter XI: Charles Francis Adams, Minister to Great Britain - On the eve of the Civil War, Charles Francis Adams becomes the third generation in the Adams family to be appointed minister to Great Britain. While two of his sons fight on the battlefields, he strives to ensure that Britain does not assist the Confederacy.

Chapter XII: Henry Adams, Historian - The sons of Charles Francis Adams endeavor to make their own marks on the world. Henry becomes a noted historian, first as a professor and then as the author of several books. He marries Marian "Clover" Hooper, a vivacious and keenly intelligent woman whose devotion to her father proves her undoing.

Chapter XIII: Charles Francis Adams II, Industrialist - While his brother Henry travels the world, Charles Francis II takes charge of the Union Pacific Railroad. Envisioning a national railway, he expands the business almost to the breaking point. Quarrying in Quincy ruins its appeal for the Adamses, who leave the town that has been home to the family for 200 years.

Written by Roger O. Hirson, Tad Mosel
Directed by Paul Bogart, James Cellan Jones, Fred Coe, Barry Davis, Bill Glen, Anthony Page
Produced by Paul Bogart, James Cellan-Jones, Fred Coe, Robert Costello, Virginia Kassel
Executive Produced by Jac Venza
Film Editing by Girish Bhargava
Costume Design by Alvin Colt

In one of the riskiest moves of his early legal career, John Adams defended the British soldiers accused in what became known as the Boston Massacre.