Happy Independence Day
Happy Independence Day to all of my American friends. On July 4, 1776 (235 years ago today) the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the United States formally declared its independence from Great Britain, changing its status from a colony to an independent nation. Fifty years later, on July 4, 1826 (185 years ago today) the two Presidents who were so instrumental in the drafting of that document, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would both shuffle off this mortal coil.
The two men had first become friends, and later bitter enemies following their differing points of view on government (Adams was a federalist, Jefferson a republican) and a vicious campaign for the presidency in 1800 in which Jefferson defeated Adams. Following his Adams was so upset with his rival that he did not even attend Jefferson's inauguration, making him one of only four surviving presidents (i.e., those who did not die in office) not to attend his successor's inauguration.
Some historians believe that the conflict is exaggerated. Adams's correspondence with Jefferson at the time of the transition suggests that he did not feel the animosity or resentment that has been attributed to him and that his hasty departure was motivated out of sorrow at the death of his son Charles Adams (due to alcoholism) and his desire to rejoin his wife Abigail.
Adams resumed farming and began to work on an autobiography, which he never finished.
Jefferson retired from public life in 1809 after two terms as President. In early 1812, Adams reconciled with Jefferson. Their mutual friend Benjamin Rush, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence who had been corresponding with both, encouraged each man to reach out to the other. On New Year's Day 1812, Adams sent a brief, friendly note to Jefferson to accompany the delivery of "two pieces of homespun," a two-volume collection of lectures on rhetoric by John Quincy Adams. Jefferson replied immediately with a warm, friendly letter, and the two men revived their friendship, which they conducted by mail. The correspondence that they resumed in 1812 continued for the rest of their lives and consisted of 158 letters.
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Adams died at his home in Quincy. Told that it was the Fourth, he answered clearly, "It is a great day. It is a good day." His last words have been reported as "Thomas Jefferson survives". In fact this was incorrect. A few hours earlier, Jefferson died from pneumonia at his home of Monticello.
Five years later, on July 4, 1831 (180 years ago today), James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States, passed away at the home of his daughter Maria Hester in New York. He was 73 years of age and died from heart failure and tuberculosis. On July 4, 1872 (129 years ago today), Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born at Plymouth Notch in Vermont. But those stories will have to wait for another day. Happy Independence Day everyone.
The two men had first become friends, and later bitter enemies following their differing points of view on government (Adams was a federalist, Jefferson a republican) and a vicious campaign for the presidency in 1800 in which Jefferson defeated Adams. Following his Adams was so upset with his rival that he did not even attend Jefferson's inauguration, making him one of only four surviving presidents (i.e., those who did not die in office) not to attend his successor's inauguration.
Some historians believe that the conflict is exaggerated. Adams's correspondence with Jefferson at the time of the transition suggests that he did not feel the animosity or resentment that has been attributed to him and that his hasty departure was motivated out of sorrow at the death of his son Charles Adams (due to alcoholism) and his desire to rejoin his wife Abigail.
Adams resumed farming and began to work on an autobiography, which he never finished.
Jefferson retired from public life in 1809 after two terms as President. In early 1812, Adams reconciled with Jefferson. Their mutual friend Benjamin Rush, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence who had been corresponding with both, encouraged each man to reach out to the other. On New Year's Day 1812, Adams sent a brief, friendly note to Jefferson to accompany the delivery of "two pieces of homespun," a two-volume collection of lectures on rhetoric by John Quincy Adams. Jefferson replied immediately with a warm, friendly letter, and the two men revived their friendship, which they conducted by mail. The correspondence that they resumed in 1812 continued for the rest of their lives and consisted of 158 letters.
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Adams died at his home in Quincy. Told that it was the Fourth, he answered clearly, "It is a great day. It is a good day." His last words have been reported as "Thomas Jefferson survives". In fact this was incorrect. A few hours earlier, Jefferson died from pneumonia at his home of Monticello.
Five years later, on July 4, 1831 (180 years ago today), James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States, passed away at the home of his daughter Maria Hester in New York. He was 73 years of age and died from heart failure and tuberculosis. On July 4, 1872 (129 years ago today), Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born at Plymouth Notch in Vermont. But those stories will have to wait for another day. Happy Independence Day everyone.