John Adams

The second President of the United States was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  In fact, John Adams served on the committee that drafted the document, along with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman.

Adams was one of the Founding Fathers who had a significant impact on religious liberty.[1] 

One event significant event was the treaty with Tripoli where the United States specifically provided that it was not pursuing a religious war against Tripoli: “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation…”[2]

The treaty was ratified by the Senate and signed by Adams.

Author Waldman notes that Adams

wasn’t threatened by exposure to other faiths; nor did he believe ant open-minded people needed to hid their pride in their own faith, “I am, therefore, of opinion that men ought (after they have examined with unbiased judgments every system of religion, and chosen one system, on their own authority, for themselves), to avow their opinions and defend them with boldness.”  … The man (Adams) who once attacked Catholics as villainous, Quakers as troublemakers, and Jeffersonians as infidels wrote to Jefferson in old age that what he now treasured most was “universal toleration.”[3]

It is very interesting to note that these two great proponents of religious freedom and authors and signers of the Declaration of Independence both served as President of the new country.  Friends during the revolution, they became bitter adversaries and only late in life reconciled.

Both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day:  July 4, 1826.  Exactly 50 years after the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence.

We pause, 241 years later, to ponder the miracle of our nations birth, the wisdom of those great people that came together to formulate this unique experiment in government.

And we rededicate ourselves to honor those brave men by doing our best to make this a country they would be proud of.  Including protecting each person’s inalienable right to worship as they choose.

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[1] See Founding Faith by Steven Waldman (2008 Random House)

[2] Id., 160-161

[3] Id., 185