He wasn’t very committed to being a tax collector, either

Adams held a position as a tax collector from 1756 until 1764. Colonists found it more challenging to pay the bills when tax rates rose. Adams, a perpetual supporter of the underdog and a lousy businessman, made the decision to ignore the situation. Adams won the unwavering love of taxpayers by refusing to collect debts, even when the government was short on funds. The deficit was a tactic used by Adams' political foes to attack his credibility. In the end, his friends covered most of the difference, with the remaining amount being resolved at a town meeting. The unpaid obligations were determined to be inevitable, and Adams' reputation was mostly unharmed.

Adams was incensed that the king would tax the colonies without giving them representation in government when the British government implemented the Stamp Act of 1765. He started planning demonstrations in opposition to the king and the taxes. He organized the Sons of Liberty, a society of patriots.

The Sons of Liberty played a significant role in mobilizing Americans to fight the British. Early on, they hung a fake British tax agent as a sign of protest against the Stamp Act and threw rocks through the windows of the home of the tax collector. Additionally, they took part in the Boston Tea Party. Across all of the colonies, the Sons of Liberty movement gained ground. During the Revolutionary War, the organization in New York City was particularly powerful and employed violent demonstrations to intimidate supporters.