Did you know Adams and Jefferson died on the same day?
This blog doesn’t seem to fit the category “Civil War Blogs” on the surface, however read on.
I learned something today about the beginning years of our Nation, while reading the Declaration of Independence and other documentation, in hopes of gaining an even deeper understanding of the Mind set of the Confederacy and why they attempted to split away. I thought by going back to the beginning and coming forward, the path to that enlightenment would present itself. And, What I am understanding, is the overwhelming sense of responsibility men of power felt they had to society and its success as a Nation politically during these two significant time periods in our Nations History. (the two time periods are the Revolutionary War and The Civil War) They regarded their government to be like a child taking its first steps, with the same concerns a parent has as the child begins to walk on its own. The parent wanting to keep it on the correct and intended path.
I found an example of what I am talking about in the death of Jefferson and Adams. (It is believed that the writing of the Declaration was decided between these two men. Adams passed the responsibility of its writing onto Jefferson for three reasons…Jefferson was better recieved by society, Jefferson was the better writer of the two and Adams felt his own tone was too abrupt for the document.) By the mid 1820’s only 3 members of the Second Constitutional Congress were still alive to bare witness to the 50th celebration of the Declaration of Independence. On that day in two seperate states, not aware of the others health, Jefferson and Adams both died. (these two men could be considered the parents of the document) Adams died in a state in what would be known later as the Union, and Jefferson in Virginia (the Heart of what would be known as the Confederacy). Upon drawing their last breath, witnessing family members recorded the following statements….Jefferson is believed to have said “The Republic is safe” (believing Adams was still alive) And Adams is believed to have said, “Jefferson lives”.
Both closing their eyes for the last time believing what they fought so hard for 50 years earlier was still safe with the other.
We all need to re-read the Declaration of Independence, the bill of rights and the Articles of Confederation to gain a deeper understanding of what our earlier leaders were thinking, and the problems they were dealing with before making public statments such as: “The Civil War was the war about Slavery”. To make a careless statement like that simplifies the war far too much, and tends to make Southerners into National Villians when in fact the war was over much, much more. My following Civil War blogs will be attempting to address the Southern justification for Secession, and to hopefully give us all a closer understanding into the needs, pressures and beliefs of the people and their leaders during that time period.
Filed under: Civil War Blogs by Savannah Meade
I did not know that Adams and Jefferson died on the same day. That was very interesting.
Thank You for your interest in my site. I hope to continue to provide you with facts that might stimulate deeper thinking into our Nations history. I was trying to help all of us to understand that our early leaders were willing to spend their entire life protecting the foundations they established and many times gave their lives and fortunes to accomplish it. There were no oil companies or drug companies footing the bill for their own benefit. It was for the benefit of our country as a whole. Something I would like to see more of today.
Adams said “Jefferson still sees”..not “Jefferson still lives”.
It has been said, that the exact words of Adams are unknown because they were written down after the fact, and only as the person recalled later. I have heard that version before. However, I still perfer to believe that the correct version is closer to “Jefferson lives” and here is why….
Jefferson and Adams were good friends in their early political life and then a rift occurred during the later part of their political life. Later, once they were enjoying their private life, they began conversing again and figured out their differences. Jefferson seems to be one of the few people that truely understood Adams. And, if you ever get the chance to read their letters to each other you will begin to see that, because they helped the birth of a nation and helped to nurture it, they felt obligated to keep it safe. Adams knew few people besides Jefferson understood him and he also knew they believed in the same things for this nation and believed it would be safe with the other. Remember there always seemed to be an invisible line drawn between the North and the South, each side always concerned the other would gain too much control. Still, Adams from the North, and Jefferson from the South, believed the other was always out for the greater good of all not just their location.
Because neither knew the other was dying ,it seems more likely that each would rest better believing the country was safe with the other. My question is if the actual words were “Jefferson Sees”…He sees what? If he said “Jefferson Lives” it makes sense he would go more gentle into the night believing someone who believed in the same things as he did, was still there to protect it. For me it comes down to what makes more sense based on the letters written to each other after their political careers were over. I appreciate your comments and your interest!