The Friendships of John Adams, 1774-1801 - The Art of Politics

This book presents the first extended analysis of the friendship network of John Adams, forged during his lengthy public career from 1774-1801.
While scholars have considered historic friendships, this monograph examines Adams's friendship network within a generation of revolutionaries. The six friendships explored exemplify the diversity of political interaction: primary friendship (Abigail), intimate confidence (Rush), political alliance (Gerry), emergent rivalry (Jefferson), the politics of personal difference (Mercy Otis Warren), and idolised revolutionary (Samuel Adams). This work positions friendship at the heart of the historian's craft; reconstructing historic relationships and considering the evolution of each dyad to examine the tensions, candour, intimacy, and forms of alliance in each. Adams's impassioned epistles present a window into his private ruminations. John Adams's expectation of friendship changed at each stage of his career: Through 1774-1801, Adams entreated support from friends, debated issues pertaining to politics, diplomacy, and the national interest, sought comfort from intimates, and lamented divisions from former friends. For John Adams, friendship represented the art of politics.
This volume will be of value to students and scholars alike interested in American history, political history and social and cultural history.

List of contents

Part 1: The Continental Congress, 1774-1778
Preface
1. Abigail Adams, 1774-1778
2. Elbridge Gerry, 1777
3. Thomas Jefferson, 1777
4. Benjamin Rush, 1777-1778
5. Samuel Adams, 1776
6. Mercy Otis Warren, 1773-1776
Conclusion
Part 2: Diplomacy, 1778-1788
Preface
7. Abigail, 1778-1784
8. Elbridge Gerry, 1778-1785
9. Thomas Jefferson, 1784-1788
10. Benjamin Rush, 1778-1782
11. Samuel Adams, 1778-1784
12. Mercy Otis Warren, 1778-1787
Conclusion
Part 3: Executive Service, 1788-1801
Preface
13. Abigail Adams, 1788-1801
14. Elbridge Gerry, 1797-1801
15. Thomas Jefferson, 1791-1801
16. Benjamin Rush, 1789-1790
17. Samuel Adams, 1790-179
18. Mercy Otis Warren, 1789-1791
Conclusion

About the author

Jamie Macpherson is the Academic Skills Adviser for the Arts and Humanities at the University of Stirling and a tutor at The University of Glasgow.

Product details

• Authors: Jamie Macpherson
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 26.12.2025
• EAN: 9781032329482
• ISBN: 978-1-032-32948-2
• No. of pages: 432
• Illustrations: schwarz-weiss Illustrationen, Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Series: Routledge Advances in American History
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; USA, HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, HISTORY / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775), HISTORY / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800), Colonialism & imperialism, Historiography, Social and cultural history, Colonialism and imperialism, History of the Americas, Early modern warfare (including gunpowder warfare), American War of Independence, Politics;US Politics;US History;History, Specific wars and military campaigns