The 4th Feels Different This Year—So I’m Turning to John Adams
The country doesn't feel free at the moment, so I'm going to watch John Adams
This year, I’ll be spending the Fourth of July alone. My daughter is visiting family in New York, and my husband is in rehab in Alabama. A decade ago, or even just last year, I probably would’ve gone out to see fireworks on my own or invited someone over for burgers and hot dogs. I’d find some way to mark the day in the usual, festive way.
Despite what some conservatives might think, this liberal loves her country deeply. I don’t need to wrap myself in flags or plaster them on my car to prove it. My patriotism doesn’t resemble a campaign rally, but it burns just as fiercely. The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. For a brief moment, Americans set aside their differences to celebrate something bigger than themselves—our shared identity, our messy yet meaningful democracy.
And I love BBQ.
249 Years Later
I’ve never bought into the mythologized version of America’s founding, but it’s still a compelling story. I love a good underdog tale, and I can’t stand bullies. Independence Day hits both those nerves: the scrappy fight for freedom and the rejection of tyranny. Even in a country that’s far from perfect, that’s a story worth honoring.
I worry that the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence won’t be a celebration of American ideals, but a marker of their decline. The latest Supreme Court rulings and executive actions make it painfully clear where our executive branch is headed. Every time the President speaks or signs another sweeping order, I can practically hear the Founding Fathers turning in their graves. Jefferson and Madison—staunch anti-Federalists—would see this as a grotesque abuse of power, a betrayal of the very principles they fought to protect.
But I digress.
My Favorite
This 4th of July, I’ll be rewatching the HBO miniseries John Adams. He’s always been my favorite, arguably the most important and the most underappreciated Founding Father. Something is comforting in hearing Paul Giamatti deliver Adams’ words, full of conviction, wisdom, and fierce patriotism. And honestly, I don’t have it in me to pretend this Independence Day feels like the ones before it.
Ask most Americans to name the most important Founding Father, and you’ll hear the usual suspects: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, maybe Benjamin Franklin or, thanks to Broadway, Alexander Hamilton. But for me, it’s always been John Adams.
Why John Adams?
The Machine Behind the Declaration
Adams was one of the most vocal and relentless advocates for independence in the Continental Congress. While others hesitated or hoped for reconciliation with Britain, Adams pushed for decisive action. Without him, the independence vote might have stalled.
The Man Behind the Declaration
John Adams played a key role in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, not as the writer, but as the strategist. He nominated Jefferson to write it and helped shape its direction. That shows his humility and ability to recognize the right person for the job, even if it meant stepping back from the spotlight.
He Didn’t Care About Popularity
Adams was never flashy, and he didn’t care much about pleasing crowds. His commitment to law, order, and republican values often made him unpopular. Still, he stayed true to what he believed would preserve the republic, even when it cost him politically (like signing the Alien and Sedition Acts, which he thought were necessary, but doomed his re-election).
Prevented the Rise of a Monarchy
As Washington’s Vice President and later the second President, Adams set essential precedents for peaceful transitions of power and limited executive authority. His decision to peacefully leave office after losing to Jefferson in 1800 is one of the earliest and clearest demonstrations of American democratic resilience. He would become the first single-term president.
The Road to Global Recognition
John Adams played a crucial role in securing critical alliances and peace treaties, particularly with the Netherlands and Britain. His work as a diplomat helped the U.S. establish its legitimacy on the world stage during its infancy.
Raised a Future President
John Adams was the only Founding Father to raise a son (John Quincy Adams) who would also become President. That legacy of public service and dedication to country ran deep in his family.
Patriotic In Death
John Adams was so patriotic that, even died on the 4th of July, 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
He Walked the Walk Of the Rule of Law
One of my favorite stories, and I feel his most important legacy, comes from the aftermath of the 1770 Boston Massacre. When British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five men, public outrage swept through Boston. Despite being a well-known patriot and supporter of the American cause, Adams agreed to defend the soldiers in court. He believed deeply in the rule of law and the right to a fair trial, even for those despised by the public.
Taking on the unpopular role, he argued that the soldiers had been provoked by a hostile mob and fired in self-defense. His now-famous line, “Facts are stubborn things,” came from his closing argument to the jury. In the end, six of the eight soldiers were acquitted, and two were convicted of manslaughter, receiving only branding on their thumbs as punishment.
Though he was criticized at the time, Adams later called it “one of the best pieces of service I ever rendered my country.” In defending the enemy, he demonstrated that American liberty wasn’t just about resisting tyranny, but about building a society grounded in justice, principle, and the rule of law.
When Flag Waving Feels Hollow
John Adams doesn’t get the Broadway treatment or the pop culture fanfare, but he was the backbone of the American Revolution. He pushed for independence when others hesitated, picked Jefferson to pen the Declaration, and defended British soldiers in court to uphold the rule of law, because principle mattered more than popularity.
As President, diplomat, and unapologetic truth-teller, Adams showed that real patriotism isn’t loud or performative; it’s principled, inconvenient, and relentless. So this 4th of July, when the flag-waving feels hollow and the state of the union feels shaky, I’ll be turning to Adams, the scrappy underdog who helped build a nation not on myth, but on guts, grit, and justice. To be reminded of the country and the office of the President I used to know.