A Dissertation on the Canon and Federal Law

work by Adams

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July 16, 2026

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"A Dissertation on the Canon and Federal Law" was written by John Adams in 1765. This work argued against the Stamp Act by asserting that Parliament's intrusions into colonial affairs demonstrated the coercive nature of English politics.1

The dissertation discusses two types of law:
* Canon law refers to the codified laws governing a church.2
* Federal public law encompasses the rules, regulations, and decisions of federal administrative agencies that enforce federal statutes.3

Adams's writings, including this dissertation, contributed to the intellectual foundation for American independence, emphasizing principles of common law and challenging parliamentary authority.145

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United States
The tax controversy
…Adams, however, warned in his Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law that Parliament, armed with this view of its powers, would try to tax the colonies again; and this happened in 1767 when Charles Townshend became chancellor of the Exchequer in a ministry formed by Pitt, now earl of…
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…Adams, however, warned in his Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law that Parliament, armed with this view of its powers, would try to tax the colonies again; and this happened in 1767 when Charles Townshend became chancellor of the Exchequer in a ministry formed by Pitt, now earl of…
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John Adams
Early life
In 1765 Adams wrote “A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law,” which justified opposition to the recently enacted Stamp Act—an effort to raise revenue by requiring all publications and legal documents to bear a stamp—by arguing that Parliament’s intrusions into colonial affairs exposed the inherently coercive and corrupt…
Read More
In 1765 Adams wrote “A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law,” which justified opposition to the recently enacted Stamp Act—an effort to raise revenue by requiring all publications and legal documents to bear a stamp—by arguing that Parliament’s intrusions into colonial affairs exposed the inherently coercive and corrupt…
Read More