Episode 1 opens in Boston 1770 on the cold winter night of the Boston Massacre . It portrays John Adams arriving at the scene following the gunshots from British soldiers firing upon a mob of Boston citizens . Adams , a respected lawyer in his mid-30s known for his dedication to the law and justice , is sought as defense counsel for the accused Redcoats . Their commander , Captain Thomas Preston , asks him to defend them in court . Reluctant at first , he agrees despite knowing this will antagonize his neighbors and friends . Adams is depicted to have taken the case because he believed everyone deserves a fair trial and he wanted to uphold the standard of justice . Adams ' cousin Samuel Adams is one of the main colonists opposed to the actions of the British government . He is one of the executive members of the Sons of Liberty , an anti-British group of agitators . Adams is depicted as a studious man doing his best to defend his clients . The show also illustrates Adams ' appreciation and respect for his wife , Abigail . In one scene , Adams is shown having his wife proofread his summation as he takes her suggestions . After many sessions of court , the jury returns verdicts of not guilty of murder for each defendant . The episode also illustrates the growing tensions over the Coercive Acts ( " Intolerable Acts " ) , and Adams ' election to the First Continental Congress
Boston Massacre
Boston Massacre
John Adams (miniseries)