“I think [John] Adams was correct when he said that his May resolutions were "an Epocha, a decisive Event," and tantamount to a declaration of independence.” ThinkingMaySaidEventsIndependenceResolutionDeclarationDeclaration Of Independence Author:Gordon S. Wood
“[John] Adams said his objective in writing his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States and his Davila essays was to counter what he thought was the unfair criticism of the American state constitutions made by the French philosophers, especially [Anne Robert Jacques] Turgot.” WritingMadeSaidStatesUnitedUnited StatesCriticismConstitutionPhilosopherObjectivesUnfairEssaysDefenceConstitution Of The United StatesFrench Philosopher Author:Gordon S. Wood
“Creating senates, the French critics said, implied that there was another social order besides the people represented in the houses of representatives. [John] Adams actually agreed with that implication and argued that the aristocracy and the people had to have separate houses; this was the only way the power of the aristocracy could be contained.” PeopleWaySaidOrderHouseSocialCreatingCriticsSenateRepresentativesImplicationsAristocracySocial OrderImpliedHouse Of Representatives Author:Gordon S. Wood
“Deeply versed in history, [John Adams] said over and over that America had no special providence, no special role in history, that Americans were no different from other peoples, that the United States was just as susceptible to viciousness and corruption as any other nation. In this regard, at least, Jefferson's vision has clearly won the day.” SaidDifferentStatesAmericaNationsUnitedVisionRolesUnited StatesSpecialRegardCorruptionProvidenceSusceptible Author:Gordon S. Wood
