Thinking History Thursday

Unfortunately for John Adams, he is too often remembered for his impotent presidency and feud with Thomas Jefferson; not the significant contributions he made to the creation of the United States.

Adams' early career is overshadowed in the history books by his more flamboyant and boisterous second cousin, Samuel Adams. John Adams was an early proponent of colonial rights. He authored the Braintree Instructions during the Stamp Act crisis in 1765, which became the basis for the "no taxation without representation" argument. Few know that the attorney defending the British soldiers put on trial after the Boston Massacre was John Adams, probably the most respected lawyer in Boston at the time. Many historians claim the Adams was selected to ensure a "fair" trial and thus show the British crown that justice can be had in the colonial courts.

Adams represented Massachusetts in both continental congresses and in Congress under the Articles of Confederation. He was on the committee tasked with drafting a Declaration of Independence in early 1776. While Jeffersons words form the final Declaration, many of Adams ideas are within. Adams liked to state that the most important thing he did while a member of the Continental Congress was to nominate George Washington as commander-in-chief of the new American army.

As part of a three man team negotiating with France during the Revolutionary War, Adams tended to do most of the legwork (as was his nature) while Ben Franklin provided the fame component and Jefferson the youthful exuberance of America. While each proved important tin their own way, it was Adams financial sense and straightforward debate technique that secured many of the loans that kept the new United States in the war.

While as cautious about the centralization of power as any other Founder, Adams recognized that the government under the Articles of Confederation were woefully inadequate. Though he was not a participant, being America's Minister to Great Britain at the time, Adams correspondence before and during the Constitutional Convention had an impact. With very few exceptions, Adams approved of the new Constitution and lobbied for its adoption.

As Vice-President in Washington's administration, Adams was bored, powerless, and grew to be angry about it. He gravitated to the Federalist Party and was their nominee during the election of 1796 and had a major falling out with Jefferson, the opposition candidate for President. As President, Adams experienced some initial success with the XYZ Affair and his handling of the potential war with France. However, Congress' decision to put restrictions on speech, press, and naturalization with the Alien and Sedition Acts was not received well by the public and Adams tended to get all the blame since he reluctantly signed the two bills. As a result he ended up being a one term President, losing to Jefferson in 1800.

John Adams was serious, driven, and at times would feel sorry for himself. He may very well of ended up being half of what he was but for his amazing wife, Abigail. Abigail provided the courage and strength he needed during tough times. Many of their letters to each other still exist and offer some insight to what may be the first truly American love affair. Adams mellowed with age. He and Jefferson renewed their friendship and in one of the amazing ironies of American history both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

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