Thoughts on Government: Difference between revisions
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}}John Adams was the second President of the United States (1797-1801) as well as the first first Vice President of the United States under George Washington (1789 -1797). Adams was a Founding Father who served on two Continental Congresses, championed American independence from Britain, and later held a long career as diplomat to France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. His work Thoughts on Government, written for George Wythe, was influential for its ideas regarding separation of powers and checks and balances. | }}John Adams was the second President of the United States (1797-1801) as well as the first first Vice President of the United States under George Washington (1789 -1797). Adams was a Founding Father who served on two Continental Congresses, championed American independence from Britain, and later held a long career as diplomat to France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. His work Thoughts on Government, written for George Wythe, was influential for its ideas regarding separation of powers and checks and balances. | ||
Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1735, to Deacon John Adams and his wife Susanna.<ref>John Ferling, <i>John Adams : A Life</i> (New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1996) 11.</ref> He attended Harvard College<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 15</ref> and would eventually practice law in Boston, entering the company of prominent lawyers like Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis, Jr.<ref>Ferling, <i>John | Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1735, to Deacon John Adams and his wife Susanna.<ref>John Ferling, <i>John Adams : A Life</i> (New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1996) 11.</ref> He attended Harvard College<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 15</ref> and would eventually practice law in Boston, entering the company of prominent lawyers like Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis, Jr.<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 23-24</ref>. He married Abigail Adams (<i>née</i>) Smith in 1764 <ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 34</ref> and although they were often separated, the two of them maintained a frequent correspondence, with Adams entrusting her with responsibilities and independence far beyond what was typical for the time. <ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 172</ref> | ||
When the Boston Massacre occurred in 1770, Adams successfully defended the British soldiers, motivated by the idea that all men are entitled to a fair trial.<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 67-68</ref> He served as a delegate from Massachusetts on the first Continental Congress in 1774 <ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 97</ref> and then on the second Continental Congress in 1775.<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 121</ref>. While serving on the Second Continental Congress he sat on ninety committees, chairing twenty-five, leading Benjamin Rush to describe him as “the first man in the House.”<ref>Peter Shaw, <i>The Character of John Adams</i>, (Chapel Hill: Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Va., by the University of North Carolina Press, 1976) 95</ref> Adams even maintained that he was offered the role of drafting the Declaration of Independence, but he declined and deferred it to Thomas Jefferson instead, though Jefferson claimed he was the original, and only, choice. <ref>Robert McGlone, “Deciphering Memory: John Adams and the Authorship of the Declaration of Independence,” <i>Journal of American History</i> 85, no. 2 (1998): 411.</ref> These disputes were a hallmark of their relationship, which consisted both of friendship <ref><ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 273.</ref> and rivalry. <ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 314.</ref> With Jefferson head of the Democrat-Republicans and Adams a Federalist, they ran against each other in the 1796 presidential election, resulting in Adams's victory, with Jefferson serving as vice president.<ref>Ferling, <i>John Adams</i>, 332.</ref> | |||
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library== | ||
Revision as of 18:50, 24 September 2025
by John Adams
| Thoughts on Government | ||
 at the College of William & Mary. |
||
| Author | John Adams | |
| Published | Boston: John Gill | |
| Date | 1776 | |
John Adams was the second President of the United States (1797-1801) as well as the first first Vice President of the United States under George Washington (1789 -1797). Adams was a Founding Father who served on two Continental Congresses, championed American independence from Britain, and later held a long career as diplomat to France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. His work Thoughts on Government, written for George Wythe, was influential for its ideas regarding separation of powers and checks and balances.
Adams was born in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1735, to Deacon John Adams and his wife Susanna.[1] He attended Harvard College[2] and would eventually practice law in Boston, entering the company of prominent lawyers like Jeremiah Gridley and James Otis, Jr.[3]. He married Abigail Adams (née) Smith in 1764 [4] and although they were often separated, the two of them maintained a frequent correspondence, with Adams entrusting her with responsibilities and independence far beyond what was typical for the time. [5]
When the Boston Massacre occurred in 1770, Adams successfully defended the British soldiers, motivated by the idea that all men are entitled to a fair trial.[6] He served as a delegate from Massachusetts on the first Continental Congress in 1774 [7] and then on the second Continental Congress in 1775.[8]. While serving on the Second Continental Congress he sat on ninety committees, chairing twenty-five, leading Benjamin Rush to describe him as “the first man in the House.”[9] Adams even maintained that he was offered the role of drafting the Declaration of Independence, but he declined and deferred it to Thomas Jefferson instead, though Jefferson claimed he was the original, and only, choice. [10] These disputes were a hallmark of their relationship, which consisted both of friendship Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag and rivalry. [11] With Jefferson head of the Democrat-Republicans and Adams a Federalist, they ran against each other in the 1796 presidential election, resulting in Adams's victory, with Jefferson serving as vice president.[12]
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library at Colonial Williamsburg owns a copy of the printed version of Adams's letter to Wythe with the following catalog description, 'Library's copy signed on title page: "John Adams to George Wythe" in Adams' hand. Several textual corrections and the date "January 1776" also by Adams.'[13] This could mean that John Adams presented this copy to George Wythe, or it could be a reference by Adams to note which version of the letter he used for publication.[14] Both Brown's Bibliography[15] and George Wythe's Library[16] on LibraryThing include Adams's tract in Wythe's library based on the copy at Colonial Williamsburg. While this copy may not have been Wythe's, it is highly likely he owned a copy of the published version of Adams's essay.
The Wolf Law Library has been unable to locate a copy for purchase.
See also
References
- ↑ John Ferling, John Adams : A Life (New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1996) 11.
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 15
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 23-24
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 34
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 172
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 67-68
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 97
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 121
- ↑ Peter Shaw, The Character of John Adams, (Chapel Hill: Published for the Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Va., by the University of North Carolina Press, 1976) 95
- ↑ Robert McGlone, “Deciphering Memory: John Adams and the Authorship of the Declaration of Independence,” Journal of American History 85, no. 2 (1998): 411.
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 314.
- ↑ Ferling, John Adams, 332.
- ↑ John Adams, 'Thoughts on Government: Applicable to the Present State of the American colonies. In a Letter from a Gentleman to His Friend' (Boston: John Gill, 1776), https://catalog.libraries.wm.edu/permalink/01COWM_INST/oaj29m/alma991023672029703196.
- ↑ "Thoughts on Government [Editorial Note,"] Founders Online, National Archives, accessed August 28, 2025.
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, 2009, rev. 2023) Microsoft Word document (on file at the Wolf Law Library, William & Mary Law School).
- ↑ LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on August 28, 2025.