Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood
The friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson was one of the most celebrated in early American history and was the driving force behind many of the events that shaped the birth of the United States. Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Gordon S. Wood sheds light on a relationship that transcended political differences and shifted the course of American history.
The book begins with an overview of the two men’s upbringing and how their paths crossed in the 1770s, when they were both working on behalf of the revolution. Wood states that Adams and Jefferson’s views concerning the best means for achieving liberty were something of a clash of the titans, with Adams advocating through a strict approach to colonial governance, while Jefferson favored a more naturalistic view of freeing people from oppression. Despite their differing views, the two men’s friendship endured and was greatly responsible for their successful collaboration in the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the successful defense of their rights as Americans.
After the Revolution, their views began to diverge once again, but Adams and Jefferson still remained friends. Wood outlines the political differences between the two men, pointing out that while Adams preferred to work within the British Parliamentary system of government to create a federal system, Jefferson wanted to forge an entirely new form of government.
The War of 1812 brought a rift between Adams and Jefferson, as Adams went on the offensive against the British, while Jefferson urged conciliation. By this time, the political disagreements between the two men had become so deep-seated that it eventually led to their political as well as their personal estrangement.
The book then turns to their close association in the years after their estrangement. Wood highlights the loyalty expressed by both men to one another and how their friendship was preserved in spite of their many disagreements. They communicated using handwritten letters, which Wood provides extensive quotes from. For example, they both expressed deep hostility towards the actions of Alexander Hamilton, who they both saw as an opponent of their own Constitutional republicanism. They also regularly commented on the state of the nation and debated its movements towards a more democratic form of government.
Ultimately, Wood reveals that despite their disagreements and political estrangement, Adams and Jefferson’s loyalty and love for one another endured. In the end, both Adams and Jefferson were able to come to a realization that their respective views were both necessary for the nation to reach its highest potential. Despite the divisions that existed between them, the two remained close friends and remained influential in the nation’s shaping until their deaths in 1826.
Friends Divided: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is an engaging and informative book that sheds light on two men who were of the utmost importance in the formation of the United States. Wood’s source material and writing encourage readers to draw insights and to reflect on the nature of friendship and its power to bridge even the most divergent of views. It is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to gain a deep understanding of these two key figures in American history.