Thomas Jefferson question for those that love history

**Midnight Mike** · 08-27-2008, 11:21 PM

Mark Warner gave one of the keynote speeches at the DNC, & it had me questioning my history, which of course was refreshed due to the John Adams miniseries

Mark brought up the Thomas Jefferson & the letters to John Adams

Thomas Jefferson complained about the aches of getting old, but, what was on his mind, is what would life be like for the next generation of Americans & as Jefferson was ready to go to sleep he closed his letter by writing [quote:2nryc4di]I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.

Jefferson got it right at the dawn of the 19th century[/quote:2nryc4di]

Anyway, if I remember correctly, did not Jefferson confide in Adams that Jefferson was wrong about the French Revolution & wanted to know how Adams knew the French Revolution would turn into a bloodbath?

Here is the link to the speech, play at the 19:45 time marker

**PhilDernerJr** · 08-28-2008, 12:05 AM

Jefferson flip flopped about the French Revolution, thinking the violence was temporary and would subside. He seemed to want war and conflict, but he wanted to avoid it personally. He said "The liberty of the whole earth was depending on the issue of the contest...rather than it should have failed, I would have seen half the earth desolated," but I don't think you'd ever have seen him grab a musket himself.

In their letters to each other later in life after they became friends again, Adams would try to goad Jefferson into debate on the French Revolution, but Jefferson never engaged on the subject as far as I know, always trying to...big shock...avoid conflict. Adams would criticize the participants of the French Revolution fairly harshly, but Jefferson wanted to leave the dispute that they used to argue about in their primes in the past. I don't recall any other references, and it stuck to me that Jefferson just wouldn't talk about it.

I remember the first time I learned about the French Revolution, and I was so excited that a nutjob like Robespierre ended up losing his head as well. I think it was the greatest "what goes around, comes around" example in world history.

**Midnight Mike** · 08-28-2008, 12:42 AM

Phil

Then, what was the purpose of this quote?

I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.

I thought when Jefferson said this he was tired & gave into Adams that Adams was right???

**PhilDernerJr** · 08-28-2008, 04:16 AM

I think that quote would pertain to our obtaining of freedom. His motivation for being for our own Revolution was not to see if we can get it, but to see what we, as a nation, can do with it over time for future generation.

**Midnight Mike** · 08-28-2008, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by Phil D.

I think that quote would pertain to our obtaining of freedom. His motivation for being for our own Revolution was not to see if we can get it, but to see what we, as a nation, can do with it over time for future generation.

Ok, going to do some research when I come back from Japan

Thanks Phil.....