• Adams was one of five members of
the Continental Congress who oversaw running of the War for
Independence.
• He was the principle author of the
Massachusetts State Constitution, the oldest functioning
written constitution in the world. One of its major
contributions was the establishment of an independent
judiciary. In it he called for “a government of laws, and
not of men.” The constitution also established the
principle of separation and balance of powers.
• Adams served as ambassador to
France during the War for Independence, and helped persuade that
government to intervene militarily on the side of the colonies
(which proved critical at the final battle at Yorktown).
• Adams also persuaded the Dutch to
recognize United States, and to loan it money at a crucial time
during the War.
And this was but the start of his public
career!
ADAMS & JEFFERSON
One of the more interesting aspects of
this book is the description of the complex relationship
between Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The men developed a strong
respect for each other when supporting the cause of independence.
Then they parted company over political differences and became harsh
adversaries in the 1790s and first part of the new century.
According to McCullough, Adams didn’t think mankind could
be improved, but was fascinated by human nature. Jefferson was
devoted to the ideal of improving mankind, yet had little
interest in getting to know most people. Adams’s many
letters reflected his personal thoughts and feelings; Jefferson
kept his true feelings to himself. Adams said what he meant
(even when it got him in trouble); Jefferson was rarely direct,
preferring to be diplomatic (he followed Ben Franklin’s
advice to “never contradict anybody”).
Most important perhaps, were their
political differences. Adams believed in the necessity of
a strong central government and chief executive.
Jefferson was passionate about the importance of keeping
government small and the executive position weak. And
then there was the ever present issue of slavery. Adams
abhorred slavery in every way. Jefferson wrote eloquently
against the practice of slavery, but he
t’s summertime
as I write this column, always a good time for
reading. The book I can’t put down this year is David
McCullough’s John Adams. It is a wonderful story.
David McCullough won a Pulitzer price for John Adams and
I’m pleased he did, because Adams is the least understood
and least admired of our Founding Fathers. Yet, as McCullough
has demonstrated, nobody except George Washington did more to
create our nation and ensure its survival during the first two
rocky decades.
Most people with a high school
education probably know that John Adams was our second
president. Some recall he was our ambassador to France, and was
George Washington’s vice president. Few know much more
about his extraordinary life. Consider the following:
• In the aftermath of the fighting at
Lexington and Concord, Adams successfully called on the
Continental Congress to name 44 year old George Washington as
head of the army.
• During the spring of 1776, as the
Continental Congress met to debate independence, Adams was a
giant among giants. He served with Jefferson on a five person
committee to draft a Declaration of Independence, and argued
for Jefferson to be the principal author. McCullough wrote that
“Adams made the Declaration of Independence happen when
it did.”
• Adams was brilliant and unrelenting
in convincing members of the Congress to take the risk of
voting for independence (an act that was considered treasonous
by the British, punishable by death). Benjamin Rush recalled
that “Every member of Congress in 1776 acknowledged him
[Adams] to be the first man in the House.” Jefferson
called Adams “our colossus on the floor.” Jefferson
later recalled that Adams’ speeches on behalf of
independence were given “with a power of thought and
expression that moved us from our seats.”
