* Founding Fathers: Adams was a close friend and collaborator of many other Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. He was particularly influenced by Franklin's practical and pragmatic approach to politics and his belief in the importance of science and technology.
* French philosophers: Adams was also influenced by the ideas of French philosophers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau. He was particularly drawn to Voltaire's commitment to religious toleration and his criticism of the Church, and to Rousseau's belief in the importance of individual liberty and political equality.
* His parents: John Adams' parents, John Adams Sr. and Susanna Boylston Adams, were both very influential in his life. His father was a deacon in the Congregational church and a selectman in the town of Braintree, Massachusetts. He taught John Adams Jr. about the importance of hard work, thrift, and public service. His mother was a well-educated woman who instilled in John Adams a love of reading and learning.