marydilip.info – In Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon S. Wood offers a compelling narrative about the complex and often tumultuous relationship between two of America’s most iconic Founding Fathers: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The book explores their intellectual evolution, their differing political ideologies, their friendship, and their eventual estrangement, providing a rich and nuanced portrait of their lives and the development of the early American republic. Wood’s examination of the Adams-Jefferson relationship serves not only as a biographical study but also as a meditation on the nature of politics, leadership, and personal loyalty during the formative years of the United States.
Overview of the Book
Wood’s Friends Divided is a comprehensive examination of the relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, spanning their early years of cooperation during the American Revolution to their bitter rivalry in the 1790s and eventual reconciliation in their later years. At the heart of the book is the exploration of how their contrasting political philosophies shaped the development of the new American republic, and how their personal friendship, grounded in mutual respect, became strained over time due to ideological differences.
Wood’s narrative is not just a recounting of the two men’s lives but a deeper exploration of how Adams and Jefferson represented two very different visions of American democracy. John Adams, with his firm belief in a balanced government and his skepticism toward the masses, was at odds with Jefferson, whose faith in the common people and the possibilities of democratic governance seemed boundless. The contrasts between the two men, both politically and personally, are what make Friends Divided such a rich and engaging read.
The book also highlights the broader context of the early American republic—its struggles with political factions, its evolving ideas about governance, and the growing tensions between those who favored a strong central government and those who championed the rights of states and individuals. Throughout the book, Wood examines how Adams and Jefferson’s friendship, rivalry, and eventual reconciliation played out against the backdrop of these broader ideological battles.
The Early Years: Partnership in the Revolution
In the early years of the American Revolution, Adams and Jefferson were united in their commitment to independence from Britain. Both men were deeply involved in the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, a momentous event that marked the beginning of their shared legacy. Although their paths to independence differed—Adams being more aggressive in his calls for rebellion, while Jefferson was more cautious—both men were committed to the cause of liberty.
Their friendship grew out of this shared commitment, with Adams offering a pragmatic, intellectual approach to the revolution, while Jefferson brought an eloquent and philosophical perspective. In many ways, their complementary strengths created a powerful partnership. Adams, with his fiery rhetoric and conviction, worked tirelessly to rally support for independence, while Jefferson’s ability to craft persuasive political documents, including the Declaration of Independence, gave voice to the revolutionary ideals.
However, despite their common cause, Adams and Jefferson had different temperaments and personalities that would later come to define their relationship. Adams, a New Englander with a strong sense of duty, was deeply distrustful of popular opinion and fearful of the chaos that could result from unchecked democracy. Jefferson, on the other hand, a Virginian aristocrat with a natural affinity for the people, saw democracy as the highest expression of human liberty. These differing temperaments were evident in their later political disagreements, but in the early years of the revolution, they were able to work together with mutual respect.
The Presidency and Diverging Philosophies
The relationship between Adams and Jefferson began to shift after the American Revolution, as both men became increasingly involved in the early governance of the United States. Adams served as the first vice president under George Washington from 1789 to 1797, while Jefferson became the country’s first Secretary of State. It was during these years that their differing political philosophies began to create significant rifts between them.
At the heart of their disagreements was the issue of federalism versus states’ rights. Adams, who had always been wary of populism, believed in a strong central government and a balance of power between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. He was a firm believer in the importance of law and order, and in the necessity of a government that could effectively govern a large and diverse nation. Adams’ vision for the United States was one where a strong national government could ensure stability and order.
Jefferson, however, held a very different view of government. As the leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, he believed in a more decentralized government, where power rested with the states and the people. Jefferson was deeply suspicious of a strong central government, fearing that it could lead to tyranny. He believed that the government should be small and that the people, particularly the agrarian class, should have more control over their own affairs. Jefferson’s vision was one of a republic of small farmers, where political power remained close to the people.
These differences between Adams and Jefferson were exacerbated during the presidency of George Washington. Adams, who had been Washington’s vice president, found himself at odds with Jefferson, who was critical of Washington’s policies, particularly those concerning foreign affairs and the formation of political parties. As Jefferson’s influence within the administration grew, Adams began to feel increasingly alienated, and their friendship began to fray.
The Election of 1796: The Split Begins
The election of 1796 marked a turning point in the relationship between Adams and Jefferson. In this election, Adams, running as the Federalist candidate, defeated Jefferson, who ran as the Democratic-Republican candidate. The election was bitterly contested, with both men’s political philosophies clashing at the heart of the nation’s politics. The election revealed the growing divide between the Federalists, who supported a strong central government and closer ties with Britain, and the Democratic-Republicans, who favored a more decentralized government and closer ties with France.
After Adams won the presidency, his relationship with Jefferson became increasingly strained. Jefferson, who had been defeated in the election, became the leader of the opposition and began to actively criticize Adams’ administration. Adams, in turn, viewed Jefferson’s criticisms as disloyal and undermining of the government. Their personal animosity deepened, and the ideological divide between the two men became more pronounced.
Despite their political differences, the two men continued to exchange letters and maintained a level of respect for one another. However, their communication became increasingly formal and distant, reflecting the growing tension in their relationship.
The Presidency of John Adams and the Alien and Sedition Acts
One of the key points of contention between Adams and Jefferson during this period was Adams’ support for the Alien and Sedition Acts, a set of laws that were designed to suppress dissent and limit the influence of foreign nationals in American politics. Jefferson strongly opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, believing that they violated the principles of free speech and state sovereignty. Adams, however, believed that the acts were necessary to protect the country from foreign influence and internal subversion.
The debate over the Alien and Sedition Acts further deepened the rift between Adams and Jefferson, and it became a focal point of the election of 1800, when Jefferson ultimately defeated Adams for the presidency. The election of 1800 was one of the most contentious in American history, with both sides accusing the other of attempting to undermine the republic.
The Election of 1800: A Bitter Rivalry
The election of 1800 was a dramatic contest between Adams and Jefferson, one that marked the culmination of their ideological and personal differences. Jefferson’s victory in 1800, which was aided by a coalition of Democratic-Republicans and the electoral votes of key swing states, marked the first peaceful transfer of power between opposing political parties in American history. This event is often regarded as a milestone in the development of American democracy.
Adams, devastated by the loss, retired from public life, while Jefferson assumed the presidency. Their rivalry had reached its peak, but as Wood details, the bitterness of the election would eventually be tempered by a reconciliation in their later years.
Reconciliation and the Final Years
In their later years, Adams and Jefferson began to mend their fractured relationship. The two men resumed their correspondence in 1812, and over the next several years, they exchanged a remarkable series of letters. These letters, which are some of the most important documents of the early American republic, reflect the intellectual and philosophical evolution of both men. Adams and Jefferson, now in their seventies, reflected on the revolutionary period, their personal histories, and their shared legacy.
The letters between Adams and Jefferson reveal a deep sense of respect for one another, despite their political differences. They discussed the American Revolution, the meaning of liberty, the development of the United States, and their own personal reflections on aging and mortality. In a remarkable coincidence, both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Their deaths, occurring just hours apart, seemed to symbolize the deep connection between their lives and the founding of the nation.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Contrasts and Collaboration
Friends Divided is an insightful and thought-provoking book that illuminates the lives and relationship of two of the most important figures in American history. Gordon S. Wood’s examination of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson reveals how their differing political philosophies and personal temperaments shaped the early American republic. Wood deftly explores their shared history, their ideological clashes, and their eventual reconciliation, providing readers with a nuanced and compelling narrative of friendship, rivalry, and the development of American democracy.