Adams was highly intelligent and principled but also abrasive, self-righteous and devoid of grace and charm. The guy just bugged people. Washington, tall and strapping, bravely led the army that secured our freedom from the British and even Adams saw him as a natural leader. Jefferson, charming and thoughtful, was an idealist who created some of the most beautiful thoughts and words that shaped our young country. Franklin, an entertaining eccentric, was a brilliant inventor and diplomat extraordinaire. The French were in love with him and they hated Adams.
Yet for all that made Adams unloved by history, without his pushing and tenacity we may never have declared our independence, may never have won the war and may never have had a lasting document declaring our rights. In the same way that Jared Diamond said (quoting Tolstoy) that all of the ingredients must be present to create a civilization and that only one missing is enough to prevent it from forming, Adams was part of a pot of ingredients that all had to be present in order for freedom to be formed. I think it's so interesting how messy our independence was; how many times it almost didn't happen and how much every man (and woman) sacrificed for the cause. Adams did not even live in the states during most of the revolution as he was in Europe trying to secure support for the war. Once America was free, he was serving as ambassador to England, and did not enjoy the freedom he helped build, nor spend time with his children for whom he secured that freedom, for many years.
Aside from the historical importance, the miniseries is incredibly well done. I hardly ever say this, but the directing is amazing. Everything from the script, production design, acting and cinematography supports the highly intimate portrait of a man and his relationships that is rarely seen in a historical drama. Astonishing is the humanness of the men who were our early presidents: Washington, Adams and Jefferson. Washington was exhausted by the position and couldn't wait to pass the torch. The job was a constant struggle for Adams as he was disliked and plotted against in party politics and only after 36 votes of the electorate was the tie with Aaron Burr broken to elect Jefferson.
Also fascinating, is the lifelong tie between Adams and Jefferson who died on the same day, 50 years after the declaration of independence on July 4. That they ended up on opposite sides of issues that have shaped American politics since, almost seems to be an intrinsic part of the success of our government. Whether we should have a strong central government or be a collection of republics, whether we should rely on a written constitution or allow each generation to dictate its own laws and whether a man should serve office strictly on his own sense of right and wrong or if party politics and the bigger picture should shape that term have been debated for over 200 years.
At times I was emotional, overcome with patriotism and in awe of the brilliance and faith of these men. Other times I was amazed that it all came together and disgusted to discover that despite the best intentions of most, even then greed, power and egos came into play to distort and corrupt our newly formed government. All throughout, the founding fathers have their own doubts as to whether this nation can actually live up to the ideas they set forth for it; can any collection of people really honor such high ideals? As Adams says "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."
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