U.S. President Facts That Will Make You See Them Differently

When John Adams’s son Charles died from alcoholism, Adams interpreted it not as a medical tragedy but as a form of divine punishment for his son’s moral failings. He believed God had judged Charles harshly — a view that reflected Adams’s stern Puritan roots.

It’s a haunting and deeply personal glimpse into Adams’s worldview. For all his brilliance and diplomacy, he carried intense, sometimes harsh spiritual beliefs that shaped how he understood even the worst moments of his life.