Customer Reviews

The Meaning of Independence: John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson

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Easily read in an hour or two, this concise book is a nice little study of independence; what it meant to John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson; and, through them, what it means to us. These three essays are not strictly biographical; Morgan does not sketch out the nitty-gritty of these Founders' lives. Rather, he takes a thematic, character-based approach to the individuals, using events to exemplify their traits, and uses them to flesh out the different takes on independence.

Of the three, Morgan views Adams most negatively, sometimes portraying him as a man of mediocre talents. Readers of McCullough's biography might disagree, but Morgan does acknowledge that Adams was a "great American" (in that he placed his country above all other considerations), who bucked party and popular opinion and refused to go to war with France. For the aloof Washington, independence was shaped by honor and interest (usually the economic variety); he aimed to give the young country self-sufficience and status on the world stage. Both Adams and Washington, Morgan credibly suggests, might have lived obscure lives had crisis not forced them to rise above the mundane. Not so with Jefferson, clearly Morgan's favorite. Here, Morgan focuses on Jefferson's idea of a continuing revolution: that is, each generation most free itself from its predecessors. Jefferson's independence meant freedom from the past.

The book is an interesting, sometimes insightful look at independence and these three men. It's not groundbreaking work, but it's good work--and surely worth a couple of hours.

I first encountered Morgan's wonderful book in a college history class (thanks, Dr. Bourdon!), but this is no dry academic tome (personally, I think that there is no reason an academic book has to be dry, anyway). The book's three essays--one each on the named presidents and their points of view on the struggle that produced this nation--are both insightful and pleasurable reading. For the casual reader, there is Morgan's gift for anecdote. His description of the personality conflict between Adams and Benjamin Franklin is hilarious, as is Adams' timeless description of the tedium of legislatures (some things really do never change!). That said, there is also serious analysis of these three men, and what each contributed, thought, and said, written with a critcal but respectful tone. It's hard to say which essay is the best, but those who despise Thomas Jefferson for hypocrisy should certainly read his section, and learn about his genuine, if tempered, idealism--a trait we could use more of in the 1990's. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to broaden and deepen his or her knowledge of the origins of this country.

This is a truly fascinating and engaging work. The meaning of indepence from Great Britain is much more profound that one would think on first thought. With this idea in mind, Morgan penetrates to the fundamental ideas and characters of each three men. For both Washington and Adams, I must say that he is right on target. His account of Jefferson is also good, although I cannot help but wonder why Morgan spends some much time and space castigating the man for what he views to be his short-comings. Regardless of the actual merit of his criticisms, he clearly strays rather far from the subject of the work. Nevertheless, the piece as a whole is gem.

Edmund Morgan is perhaps the most readable American colonial historian. Best known for his books on the Puritans and colonial slavery, Morgan here presents three lectures on what three founding fathers thought about independence. George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson are three very complicated individuals, and no short lecture is going to completely explicate their ideas. But Morgan brings his typical verve and clarity to the subject, and speaking as a AP history teacher, I found them to be well worth my time.

This short book offers an interesting, thoughtful look at the meaning of American independence through separate essays about the lives and careers of John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Each essay: (1) discusses their lives and actions prior to, during, and after the American Revolution; (2) examines the personalities and character traits of each man; (3) compares and contrasts each man with other Americans of their times; and (4) offers some interesting thoughts about how each man viewed and dealt with the meaning and significance of American independence. Although the author clearly indulges in some speculation about the thoughts and opinions of each man, he supports that speculation with references to documentary evidence cited in the Notes section at the end of each essay.

This book is written in a style that is accessible for non-historians, but also suitable for someone doing historical research. Whether the reader ultimately agrees with the author's conclusions or not, the essays are interesting and his conclusions supported by sufficient arguments to warrant serious consideration. I recommend this book for anyone interested in: the lives and careers of John Adams, George Washington, or Thomas Jefferson; the American Revolution; the meaning of American independence; and some lessons that modern Americans might learn from early American history.