John Adams

JOHN THURSTON is back and eager to discuss Western Martial Arts, especially relating to its history.

Moderator: JOHN THURSTON

Post Reply
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

John Adams

Post by f.Channell »

Just wanted to recommend the new series John Adams on HBO.
Really well done.
Having visited his early farmhouse and later mansion this past summer I was real impressed with the historic accuracy of the program.
Truly a very amazing man.
Wish we had one like him today in Washington.
F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
JOHN THURSTON
Posts: 2445
Joined: Sat Nov 28, 1998 6:01 am
Location: MARSHFIELD, MA. USA
Contact:

Yeah/Also see if you can find

Post by JOHN THURSTON »

I am afraid that when they go to Washington now, every politician;s ain it to stay there.

Also, see if you cacn find the briefs and oral arguments entered thus far in the "Heler" case regarding the DC handgun ban.
"All Enlightenment Gratefully Accepted"
Hugh
Posts: 595
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Virginia

Post by Hugh »

I don't get HBO so I haven't seen it but I understand that the show has whitewashed John Adams' rather testy nature and his famous temper tantrums. These are what led to his pushing for the Alien and Sedition Acts and what led to his having but one term as president.
Trying to Walk in the Light, Hugh
1 John 1:5
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

I would say from the show it appears he lost reelection because of not declaring war with France. Of course I wouldn't base how I enjoyed the whole show on just that one episode. He clearly was an interesting, amazing man.

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
Hugh
Posts: 595
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Virginia

Post by Hugh »

If I remember my history correctly, his support for the Alien and Sedition Acts were probably the biggest factors in his loss. They really angered the populace, and rightly so.
Trying to Walk in the Light, Hugh
1 John 1:5
Gene DeMambro
Posts: 1684
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 1998 6:01 am
Location: Weymouth, MA US of A

Post by Gene DeMambro »

SOme reports have it that Congress passed thre Alien and Sedition Acts. Adams did not push for their passage, but he signed them into law. His fiery temper came out in the series, believe you me.

I liked the series, but I was distraught over some of the historical inaccuracies. But my mother has a collegue who is a decendant of John Adams (don't know which child) and is President of the Adams Historical Society. She says it was one of the few accurate portrayals of John Adams.

Cheers,
Gene
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

I know the re-enactments of the scenes at home were amazing recreations of his Mansion in Quincy, as I drive by it frequently. Amazing to see it out of it's present urban setting and in a rural farm setting. Even the scenes in his study were totally accurate depictions of the room. As far as I know they were not filmed there. I doubt the U.S. parks department would allow it.

With the alien and sedetion acts one has to think back to the times when we were just coming out of a monarchy.
Public insults of politicians were an amazing insult to authority at the time.
200,000 french were in the U.S. at the time as we were very close to war with them. We were right on the brink.
Look at what we did to the Japanese 140-150 years later with the internment camps.
In the show Adams was portrayed as forced to sign it for political reasons.
I suppose a perusal of his 7 volumes he wrote on his presidency would answer the question. Based upon the other attentions to detail I would have to say it's accurate.

The place I teach Karate in was built in 1718 by the Thaxters. One of the later Thaxters was a secretary to Adams in Europe during the war. Abigail forced him to marry her maid after he put her in a family state!
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
Hugh
Posts: 595
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2000 6:01 am
Location: Virginia

Post by Hugh »

Please see this web site:
http://www.bartleby.com/65/al/AlienNSe.html

I would only note that the only enforcement of any of these acts was against newspaper editors who supported Jefferson's Republicans.
Trying to Walk in the Light, Hugh
1 John 1:5
User avatar
JaySal
Posts: 274
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 1:43 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Post by JaySal »

Hi Fred Sensei.

I just finished watiching the John Adams mini series. It was outstaning. If everything I saw in it was based on truth, or historical fact. I learned many things about John Adams and the other founding farthers, that I never knew.

Take Care - Jay
Jay Sal
Semper Fi
User avatar
f.Channell
Posts: 3541
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 1999 6:01 am
Location: Valhalla

Post by f.Channell »

Hi Jay,
Yes interesting stuff.
Wish they did his son also. Another fascinating guy. After being President he still served in the House of Representatives.
Had a stroke in the house in his 80's arguing about what, I'll have to look up.

When I drive by Presidents church now I think of all they did for us.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja6.html

F.
Sans Peur Ne Obliviscaris
www.hinghamkarate.com
Post Reply

Return to “Western Martial Arts & History”