In this October 19, 1775, letter to James Warren, John Adams argues for the creation of a navy for the colonies and outlines why southern colonies might oppose it. Warren served as the president of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and paymaster general of the Continental Army. Adams led the Massachusetts delegation in the Second Continental Congress, which established the Continental Navy on October 13, 1775.
In this document submitted to the Second Continental Congress on June 28, 1776, the committee appointed to craft a declaration of independence presents its draft for approval. The committee, which included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman, had revised a draft written by Jefferson. After further revisions, Congress approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
In this letter to Thomas Jefferson, dated February 10, 1812, John Adams mentions having received publications prophesying the end of the world by two Virginians, Christopher McPherson and Nimrod Hughes.
In this letter to Benjamin Rush, dated April 22, 1812, John Adams criticizes George Washington at length, claiming that he was “too illiterate, unlearned, unread, for his Station and reputation.” Washington had himself expressed doubt about his abilities, writing in 1785 that he had “consciousness of a defective education.”
Encyclopedia Virginia
233 4th St NW, Suite J
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 924-3296
