Chapter 2 Boston (1848-1854) Summary

Charles Francis Adams, Henry's father, inherited a "Puritan" bias and is anti-slavery from birth; a trait passed on to Henry. Charles is an outsider in Boston because of his firm stance against slavery, which puts him at odds with such figures as Daniel Webster and other leading members of Boston society. He eventually founds an abolitionist party, the Free Soil Party, and runs for vice-president.

Henry Adams describes himself as dogmatic and says that, had be been born in an earlier century, he would have gone into the church. For him, anti-slavery is like a religious war, a continuation of the Puritan struggle. His education so far is mostly a matter of inheriting the opinions of his relatives; his father is a chief influence in these six years.

C.F. Adam's character plays the largest role in his education...