John Adams Quotes
We cannot in this country conceive that there are men in England so infatuated as seriously suspect the Congress, or people here, of a wish to erect ourselves into an independent state…. I have never met one individual so inclined.
While Adams was a little hyperbolic in his claim, the vast majority of the colonists who were protesting British policy and administration in 1775 were seeking reform, not separation from England. But what a difference a year made! British reaction radically changed the objectives of most colonists. See George Washington {613171} for a similar view.
John Adams, 1735-1826, 2nd President of the United States (Federalist, MA), Letter to London, England Alderman William Lee, October 4, 1775
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Revolution was not the initial objective of most of the American colonists in their protests against the British. See John Adams {613172} for a similar view. The “constitution” to which Washington referred was the British Constitution. The U. S. Constitution would not be drafted for another 13 years.
This was written more than a year before the “blows” began. It took time to ship the men and supplies to America and the British did not handle that task with much efficiency.
He later settled for Home Rule in the Irish Treaty of 1922
He persuaded many other rulers to join the Indian Union when India became Independent.
The purpose was to try and get the king and parliament not to enforce the Stamp Act in the colonies. The delegates had to thrash out the language and it was important to flatter the king and parliament. While some delegates felt that loyalty to the mother country, many others thought that the king and parliament had betrayed them and thought this language gross hypocrisy. See {589426} for one delegate’s description of the difficulty.
This resolution was the trigger that began the debate which became the Declaration of Independence.
Adams died on July 4th.
French Canadian separatists had begun a movement for an independent Quebec. The area that was to be an independent nation, however, included the land of several Indian tribes including the Cree. They insisted on the same right of self-determination within Quebec as the French Canadians claimed within Canada. Their opposition among others led to the failure of the Meech Lake Accord.
Cortes had just been released from Federal Prison pursuant to a clemency agreement whereby he renounced violence. He had been jailed for illegal F.A.I.N. activities.
This resolution of independence was voted upon a month before the Declaration of Independence. It was approved by 12 of the colonies but not by New York. The Congress appointed a committee to draft what became the Declaration of Independence and that was approved by all the colonies. The resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee on instructions from Virginia. The graphic is of Lee’s original notes.
- Born: October 30, 1735
- Died: July 4, 1826
- Nationality: American
- Profession: US President, Stateman, Lawyer, Author
John Adams Jr. was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain, and he served as the first vice president of the United States. Adams was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with many important figures in early American history, including his wife and adviser Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
