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Quote by Gordon S. Wood

“By 1782 [John Adams] had come to feel for [Benjamin] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence."”

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Gordon S. Wood is an American historian renowned for his extensive research on the American Revolution. His book 'The Creation of the American Republic' won the Pulitzer Prize for History. more

“As early as 1776, [John Adams] expressed his doubts about America's capacity for virtue. "I have seen all along my Life, Such Selfishness, and Littleness even in New England, that I sometimes tremble to think that, altho We are engaged in the best Cause that ever employed the Human Heart, yet the Prospect of success is doubtfull not for Want of Power or of Wisdom, but of Virtue."”

Thinking Want Humans Heart Sometimes America Causes Virtue Doubt Capacity England Selfishness Engaged Human Heart Employed New England

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“By the time [John Adams] came to write his Defence of the Constitutions of the United States in 1787 he had as dark a view of the American character as that of any critic in our history.”

Writing States Character Dark United Views United States Constitution Critics Defence Constitution Of The United States American Character

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“I think [John Adams] developed a much deeper suspicion of France and the other European powers than he had earlier. He lost much if not all of the utopian thinking about international politics and diplomacy expressed in his Model Treaty of 1776 and became much more cynical about the world.”

Ifs Thinking World Lost Models International Deeper France Cynical Suspicion Diplomacy Treaties Utopian

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“[John] Adams's perception of Europe, and especially France, was clearly different than [Tomas] Jefferson's. For Jefferson, the luxury and sophistication of Europe only made American simplicity and virtue appear dearer. For Adams, by contrast, Europe represented what America was fast becoming - a society consumed by luxury and vice and fundamentally riven by a struggle between rich and poor, gentlemen and commoners.”

“[John Adams] experience with the French philosophers only convinced him further of the need for a bicameral legislature representing the two principal social orders and, equally important, an independent executive.”

Needs Two Important Order Social Independent Philosopher Convinced Executives Principal Legislature Representing Social Order French Philosopher

Author:Gordon S. Wood

“Perhaps more significant than his experience in Europe, though, was [John] Adams's experience in his own country, and his extensive reading on the history of the English constitution. In 1779, he had an opportunity to try out his ideas by framing the Massachusetts constitution.”

Trying Ideas Country Reading Opportunity Europe Constitution Significant Massachusetts Framing Extensive Reading

Author:Gordon S. Wood

Quote by Gordon S. Wood

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