John Adams
Many revolutions have come and gone. The French Revolution occurred shortly after the American Revolution. It involved many governments set up as tumbingling houses of cards with thousands of heads rolling off a guillotine. So what made the American Revolution successful? How has America been able to stand the test of time and emerge as the world's leading democracy? John Adams was a student of history. His appetite for the classics and world histories was voracious. One can visit his historic landmark house in Massachusetts today and witness first hand a large and magnificent library that takes up a whole room from floor to ceiling on all sides. As a student of history, he knew that success was not in declaring a revolution, but sustaining it afterwards.
Although the Declaration of Independence is celebrated as the landmark moment of our budding republic, it is not our country's most important decision. It was John Adams who insisted that before independence could be declared, there must be a stable form of government in place in each of the thirteen colonies. On May 12, 1776, the Continental Congress resolved that a new state constitution be created in each of the colonies. John Adams described this as "the most important resolution that was ever taken place in America."{Joseph Ellis, Revolutionary Summer,( US: Alfred. A Knopf: 2013), 17} It was critical that the new nation have states which formed governments that would support the budding republic. Three colonies, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, asked John Adams to provide insight on what would formulate a strong, democratic state governing system. This is why Adams, revered as a leading constitutional thinker, published his great work Thoughts on Government. Stability and popular consent are key tenets in government. The fact that there was a safety net for which the young country could fall into was key in preventing a takeover from various factions or rogue leaders (as so often happens, ranging from Napoleon Bonaparte to Fidel Castro).
Not only was John Adams' study of history critical in the formation of our government, it served an important role when the British started winning the military battle for our country. After the Battle of Long Island and the landing of the largest armada overseas up until World War I, many Continental Congress delegates were disheartened. George Washington was ashamed at how his troops responded, and he was trapped in a precarious postion. Yet it was stalwart Adams, chairman of the Board of War and Ordnance, who reflected on history for inspiration. Reflecting on Greek and Roman history, he reminded a downcast General Henry Knox of how Hannibal managed to lose the Punic war despite winning the battles. He referred to Thebes in the Peloponnesian War who won by a nontraditional strategy of skirmishing and retreat. His references to history were the perfect way to keep both Congress and the Army hopeful.
Most challenges and issues in today's governments involve concerns that may be new, but ramifications that are as old as the pyramids. To study history is to seek wisdom for solving today's problems with the yesterday's solutions. The United States was so fortunate to have a statesman who valued historical lessons. With this knowledge, he was able to provide both a foundation for our country's progress and a moral comfort much needed to the military troops. John Adams was a shrewd leader. May we all learn that with history, we can bring more to the table.
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