Being a fan of both HBO produced television and David McCullough I was inrigued when I kept hearing many good things about both tv series and book. And then when I was last in the USA I was regailled with stories about Adams himself, about how as the second president of the United States he was a bit of dude.
So in the last six months I have gradually explored both the mini series and book and as a result greatly increased my knowledge of the man that was and John Adams. And who was John Adams? He was a farmer, a lawyer, a central player in the American Revolution, a diplomat, an economist, a teacher, a friend, a husband and a father. He was the first American ambassador to Holland and to Britain. He nominated George Washington to be the commander of the Continental Army, while at the same time leading Congress to make the decision to declare independence. He secured American credit from Dutch bankers (in effect kick starting the American economy). In between his rather more grand affairs he drafted the Massachussets constitution, before assuming the post of first Vice President of the United States. Then after 8 years as George Washingtons deputy he became the Second President of the United States, a term of office which amongs other things resulted in the formation of the US Navy and the construction of the White House.
And yet this only part highlight Adams the man. He was an exceptional learner and educator (consuming books and such at a phenomenal rate). He strove to be removed from party politics and was willing to take the unpopular stand on issues (perhaps most clearly seen in his defence of British soliders in the aftermath of the Boston massacre). Frequently he would rise early and undertake a 6 mile walk before undertaking the education of himself and his sons, and then go on to meet with the Kings of England and France.
His son John Quincy adams would also go on to be a formidable man in his own write and the Sixth President of the US.
To top all this off John Adams was a Christian, a man who believed that the success of the United States and its government were decided by God.
John Adams was then a remarkable man. To many Americans this may already be a given, but to a Brit who had known nothing of him whatsoever David McCullough's study was something of a revelation. More than just a study of an exceptional fella, McCullough's book was a great insight into the Founding Father's of the United States and something of the reality of how America as a nation came into being.
Having recently read a book on the British perspective of the American Revolution I was beginning to think that America as a nation was that of an unstoppable force, united, organised, led by God's providence to an inevitable nationhood. Indeed, this is an attitude somewhat embraced by modern America too. And in a sense I do not doubt that God's providence was at work in America's creation. However, far from the relentless creation of a instantly unified noble nation, the perspective from the founding father's themselves seems to have been that of a nation weak and hanging nervously on the presipice of destiny, dependant on God or good fortune (depending on which Founding Father) to survive.
Squabbling, dispute, backstabbing - all were features even as the Revolution was still in the making. Once America was established as a nation and recognised by the British amongs others, the features of modern politcs and the media involvement in that process that are so familiar today came into being. Former friends and colleagues in congress ripped whole heartedily into each other. Even Washington was accused of being a monarchist despot. Newspapers tore into politicians on either side of the fence. In short the late eighteenth century seems to be remarkably like the early twentyfirst century in the manner in which politics was enacted, politicians fought and the media sought to manipulate the situation.
All very fascinating. I would heartily recommend both David McCullough's book and the HBO series (though the series takes certain liberties to convey an epic story in 7 episodes) to anyone seeking either a great story (make no mistake that McCullough is great story teller first and formost, presenting history in such a way that is both easy to read and digest) or a real insight into the birth of the USA. Of course, to take one book or tv series as a singular source on people like the Founding Fathers and the Revolution itself is not necessarily wise, but as many out there are not history students, this book is a great place to start, and the tv series is the short and easy option to the book.
To close, some interesting thoughts Adams had on politics:
- He was fiercely against politcal parties, believing it would deeply harm America as a nation.
- He was bemused at the idea of creating a nation in which everyone would be completely equal and felt that trying to attempt to create such a country was a bit silly. Everyone is equal before God and slavery was an abomination (to Adams) but in every country in history and forever more, there would always be disparites in wealth and such between people.
- He was also deeply suspicious that even something like democracy would have its short comings as it still depended on humans and they were and would be deeply flawed.
- He wisely noted that it was inevitable that any nation would throw up an average leader as all of society contained average people, so why should a leader always be exceptional.
I could go on but it is perhaps better to read the book yourself. Enjoy.
