I just made the realization that I never before dedicated a post to John Adams. He is mentioned in my about page but he deserves so much more. My PSE mentor, Colleen, is the only other person I’ve met who shares my love for him so it is quite clear that I need to spread the word about how integral he was to the revolution and what an inspiring person he is.
The HBO John Adams series (based on the book by David McCullough, which I highly recommend) is what initially sparked my interest in this fascinating man. Fun fact: I went to theater camp with the boy who plays young John Quincy. The series gives a wonderful picture of John Adams’ contribution to the formation of the United States of America. What people don’t often realize is that had he not secured a loan from the Dutch during the war, things may have turned out tragically different.
Figures like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson (don’t even get me started on how much I dislike Mr. Jefferson) get all of the attention and glory, but with Adams pulling the strings (like ultimately nominating Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence) I would suggest that history as we know it would be completely different.
Beyond his political contributions, John Adams was such a good man and hard worker. He never owned a slave, worked his own farm well into old age, and was an essentially self taught solicitor. I could go on endlessly about how I want to be like John Adams. A few Christmases ago my brother got me a poster of the great man and I have it hanging up by my mirror in my dorm room. Each day I look at it and say to myself “Be like John.” It’s like a “What would Jesus do (WWJD)” mentality, except I add a J for John. If I can be anything even remotely like these two great men I will be satisfied.
Have I sparked your interest in John Adams? Who do you look up to?
Looks like this could be a great series. I am sure the book is amazing, but my one worry is that this series might be a little too slow paced for most people.
rae of love from berlin
I can't rave enough about both the series and the book! The series is actually action packed with all of the debates in continental congress, traveling, battles, court scenes…at least for a history person like me there is never a dull moment.