Pals Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams might scarcely have come from extra completely different worlds, or been extra completely different in temperament. Jefferson, the optimist with sufficient religion within the innate goodness of his fellow man to be democracy’s champion, was an aristocratic Southern slaveowner, whereas Adams, the overachiever from New England’s rising middling courses, painfully conscious he was no aristocrat, was a skeptic about common rule and a defender of a extra elitist view of presidency. They labored intently within the crucible of revolution, crafting the Declaration of Independence and main, with Franklin, the diplomatic effort that introduced France into the battle. However in the end, their profound variations would result in a elementary disaster, of their friendship and within the nation writ giant, as they grew to become the figureheads of two totally new forces, the primary American political events. It was a bitter breach, lasting via the presidential administrations of each males, and past. 

However late in life, one thing outstanding occurred: these two males had been nudged into reconciliation. What began as a grudging trickle of correspondence grew to become an ideal flood, and a friendship was rekindled, over the course of a whole lot of letters. Of their last years they had been the final surviving founding fathers and cherished their position on this mighty younger republic because it approached the half century mark in 1826. Ultimately, on the afternoon of July 4th, 50 years to the day after the signing of the Declaration, Adams set free a sigh and mentioned, “At the least Jefferson nonetheless lives.” He died quickly thereafter. In actual fact, a number of hours earlier on that very same day, far to the south in his house in Monticello, Jefferson died as nicely. 

Arguably no relationship on this nation’s historical past carries as a lot freight as that of John Adams of Massachusetts and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. Gordon Wooden has greater than achieved justice to those entwined lives and their that means; he has written a powerful new addition to America’s collective story.