Posted on 07/07/2020 11:00:16 AM PDT by Perseverando
Both served in the Continental Congress and both signed the Declaration of Independence.
Both served as U.S. Ministers in France.
One was elected the 2nd President and the other the 3rd.
Once political enemies, they became close friends in later life.
An awe swept America when they both died on the same day, JULY 4, 1826, exactly 50 years since they approved the Declaration of Independence.
Their names were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson's handwritten Declaration of Independence used the wording "inalienable" rights as seen in the copies at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, the New York Public Library, and the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston.
John Adams hand copied Jefferson's original draft and changed the spelling to "unalienable" rights when he oversaw the printing of the Declaration on the Dunlap broadside.
The Broadway musical 1776 even has a scene portraying their disagreement over the spelling.
According to The American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style (Houghton Mifflin Co.), "unalienable" and "inalienable" both mean "that which cannot be given away or taken away."
John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, was the 6th President at the time and told Congress, December 5, 1826:
"Since your last meeting at this place, the 50th anniversary of the day when our independence was declared ...
two of the principal actors in that solemn scene -- the HAND that penned the ever-memorable Declaration and the VOICE that sustained it in debate --
were by one summons, at the distance of 700 miles from each other, called before the Judge of All to account for their deeds done upon earth."
John Quincy Adams wrote in an Executive Order, July 11, 1826:
"A coincidence ... so wonderful gives confidence ... that the patriotic efforts of these ... men were Heaven directed, and furnishes a new ... hope that the prosperity of these States is under the special protection of a kind Providence."
Jefferson described Adams as: "the pillar of the Declaration's support on the floor of Congress, its ablest advocate and defender."
Defending the Declaration, John Adams told the Continental Congress, July 1, 1776:
"Before God, I believe the hour has come ...
All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it ...
... Live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence for ever!"
adams and jefferson utterly despised each other when they were both active members of the federal government. jefferson arguably committed treason as adams’ vice president.
they were friends as revolutionaries. they reconciled (by mail, interestingly, not in person) in their very later years. but let’s not pretend that they were anything but the bitterest of enemies as governmental colleagues.
See a scan of the original draft for yourself here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/mtj1.001_0545_0548/?sp=1
Adams passed the hated sedition act, correct?
Bit off topic, but has anyone seen Hamilton, the broadway play now being broadcast on Disney plus? Wonder if it is woke garbage. And I have never really ever appreciated Hamilton, so thought it might be interesting.
It was later removed by others.
read chernow’s book. it’s better.
“Thomas Jefferson survives,” were rumored to be among Adams’ last words from his deathbed in Quincy, Mass. He was unaware that his friend died that day, July 4, 1826, at his beloved Monticello estate more than 500 miles away in Virginia.
OK, will have to open minded as I have never been a Hamilton fan.
.
Thomas Jefferson still lives. ...
.
Not long after Adams went back to Massachusetts, Jefferson and Abigail Adams exchanged a series of letters and at one point John read them, but it took another 8 or 9 years before he was willing to be reconciled with Jefferson. They had cooperated very well in the American Revolution. It was Adams who insisted that Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence because he admired Jefferson’s ability to write beautifully.
he wanted a virginian to write the declaration so new england wouldn’t be accused of fomenting rebellion for sectional reasons and dragging the other colonies into it.
The committee of five appointed to prepare the declaration included one man each from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Jefferson showed his draft to Franklin and Adams, but didn't bother asking Robert Livingston or Roger Sherman for comments (but the five as a whole approved it before it went to the full Congress). Livingston did not sign the Declaration.
According to Henry Payne, Jefferson had written "life, liberty and the pursuit of awesome barbecue" but Franklin suggested editing it to just "pursuit of happiness" (July 2, 2020, cartoon).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.