Jefferson Lovers vs. Adams Lovers - Rivals and Friends (Sometimes)

[jbg]

I just finished Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood. As a history buff I was interested in the book. Relevant to Adams I have also read:

1. John Adams Under Fire: The Founding Father's Fight for Justice in the Boston Massacre Murder Trial by Dan Abrams, David Fisher;
2. Benjamin Rush: Patriot and Physician by Alyn Brodsky;
3. John Adams by McCullough, David;
4. Abigail Adams: A Biography by Whitney, Janet; and
5. First Family: Abigail and John Adams by Ellis, Joseph J.

This book brought up an old rivalry, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, our first and second VP's and our second and third presidents. In my "growing up" years of the 1960's and 1970's Jefferson was definitely looked upon more favorably. Adams was most famous for the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and Jefferson was famous for:

1. Writing (most of) the Declaration of Independence;
2. Inspiring the Bill of Rights;
3. Forming the rival party to the then-dominant Federalists, the Democratic-Republican Party;
4. Engineering the Louisiana Purchase; and
5. Fighting the Barbary Pirates.

This, ultimately, overstated Jefferson's legacy and understated Adams' legacy. In many respects, Jefferson's ideal of a revolutionary model, the French Revolution, was a poor example and a poor outcome. Basically the French revolutionaries demolished all the guardrails that protected civil society. That revolution would up with the destruction of the church, the return to dictatorship under the Directorate and Napoleon and eventually the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. A round-trip that accomplished a few worthwhile things but not very much.

Adams' legacy is far better for his non-Presidential years than his term in office. By his representation of British soldiers in the Boston Massacre trial he helped enshrine the American tradition that everyone gets their day in Court. He was indeed part of the drafting process of the Declaration. With help from Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, he arranged for vital funding of the Revolutionary War. He was our first Ambassador to Britain, during the 1780's. He assisted in the effort to restore relations with Britain. While we were independent we did not rule of world or the seas. After his term in office he was extremely active in promoting the Massachusetts constitution. Certainly, Abigail Adams left a far larger mark on American and women's history than did Martha Jefferson.

Jefferson's non-Presidential legacy is mixed. He indeed was a prime mover behind writing the Declaration, and he was ambassador to France during the 1780's. He was our first Secretary of State. His role in that job was at best dubious. As far as non-political activities he begat a child or children by Sally Hemmings. He lived, and died, in massive debt. Unlike Adams he did not manage his finances well. Monticello was the monument to his visions of grandeur as well as his debt.

 

[sun rise]

As far as non-political activities he begat a child or children by Sally Hemmings. He lived, and died, in massive debt. Unlike Adams he did not manage his finances well.

I don't have enough deep knowledge to compare them in detail. But I would not use a standard of perfection to judge them. They were all human beings with strengths and weaknesses. So I'd focus on what they accomplished as founders.

 

[jbg]

I don't have enough deep knowledge to compare them in detail. But I would not use a standard of perfection to judge them. They were all human beings with strengths and weaknesses. So I'd focus on what they accomplished as founders.

Which was plenty. Historians heavily divide on this one.