In 1826, just a few weeks before he died, John Adams received an invitation to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of American independence in his hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts. This was his reply: "The

In 1826, just a few weeks before he died, Thomas Jefferson received an invitation to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of America's independence in Washington, D.C. with the few co-signers who still lived.

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.

"But the fact being once established, that the press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood, I leave to others to restore it to it’s strength by recalling it within the pale of truth. Within

"It would seem impossible that an intelligent people, with the faculty of reading, & right of thinking, could continue much longer to slumber under the pupilage of an interested aristocracy of

"The important distinction so well understood in America, between a Constitution established by the people and unalterable by the government, and a law established by the government and alterable

"[D]oes it follow that one violation of the constitution is to be justified by another?" - James Madison, February 8, 1791.

"It will at least be a recommendation to the proposed Constitution that it is provided with more checks and barriers against the introduction of Tyranny, & those of a nature less liable to be

"That elections may not be contaminated by strangers, or unqualified persons, may it not be necessary that every man may be known, as far as possible, when he presents himself to give his vote; this

"I learn with great concern that a portion of our frontier so interesting, so important, and so exposed, should be so entirely unprovided with common fire arms. I did not suppose any part of the US.

"At length we are in Peace, God be praised; & long, very long may it continue. All Wars are Follies, very expensive & very mischievous ones. When will Mankind be convinc’d of this, and agree

"You might as well, with the sailors, whistle to the wind, as suggest precautions against having too much money. We must scud then before the gale, and try to hold fast, ourselves, by some plank of

"[Y]ou remember how rapidly our money went down after our 40. for 1. establishment in the revolution. I doubt if the present trash can hold as long. I think the 380. millions must blow all up in the

PART I - THEN On January 23, 1775, an essay appeared in The Boston Gazette. It was sort of like today’s letters to the editor, only longer, more erudite, and addressed to “the Inhabitants of the Colony

"A settled plan to deprive the people of all the benefits, blessings and ends of the contract, to subvert the fundamentals of the constitution—to deprive them of all share in making and executing

"Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty." - John Adams, January 23, 1775.

Howdy! I was hoping to check out Steemit chat and have been having difficulties getting in. I tried to sign up on Friday, putting in my name, email, and a new password. I was under the impression that

"This country, which has given to the world the example of physical liberty, owes to it that of moral emancipation also. For, as yet, it is but nominal with us. The inquisition of public opinion

"All the states but our own are sensible that knolege is power." - Thomas Jefferson, January 22, 1820.

"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!" - Samuel Adams, January 21, 1776.