“Unlocking Humanity: The Surprising Secret Behind What Makes Us Truly Human”
Adams would write of his intention of this work to show “the best Models for Americans to Study, in order to Show them the horrid Precipice that lies before them in order to enable and Stimulate them to avoid it.” He concluded of all this, “all nations, under all governments, must have parties; the great secret is to control them: there are but two ways, either by a monarchy and standing army, or by a balance in the constitution. Where the people have a voice, and there is no balance, there will be everlasting fluctuations, revolutions, and horrors, until a standing army, with a general at its head, commands the peace, or the necessity of an equilibrium is made appear to all, and is adopted by all.”
As for the completed work and its influence on the U.S. Constitution, founding Father Benjamin Rush would write, “Mr. Adams’ book has diffused such excellent principles among us that there is little doubt of our adopting a vigorous and compounded federal legislature.”
Thomas Jefferson would write to Adams of it, “I have read your book with infinite satisfaction and improvement. It will do great good in America. Its learning and its good sense will, I hope, make it an institute for our politicians, old as well as young.”
Founding father David Ramsay would further note, “This work is universally admired in Carolina & I flatter myself it will be instrumental in diffusing right notions of government.” And that, “I devoutly wish that the sentiments of it were engraven on the heart of every legislator in the United States.”
