Adams, John (1735-1826) A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00177.01 Author/Creator: Adams, John (1735-1826) Place Written: London, England Type: Book signed Date: 1787 Pagination: 2 v. : xxxi, 392 p. , 6 p. of plates ; 21.7 x 14 cm. : 451 p. , 6 p. of plates ; 21.7 x 14 cm.
Summary of Content: First edition, printed in London at the Poultry, for C. Dilly. Inscribed by Adams to his cousin, Hannah Adams, and subsequently by Hannah to her nephew, Thomas Adams Hill. In this work, Adams forcibly states the principles on which he perceived the United States to be founded. The book was popular and went through numerous editions. Later, Adams' detractors sought to find in it a hidden desire for a monarchy. In 1788 Adams extended this work by publishing two additional volumes in London. Only the first two volumes are here.
Background Information: Howes a60. Sabin 233. Evans 20176. DAB 1: 76.
People:
Adams, John, 1735-1826
Adams, Hannah, 1755-1831
Historical Era: The New Nation, 1783-1815
Subjects: US ConstitutionState ConstitutionArticles of ConfederationGovernment and CivicsLiterature and Language ArtsPresidentRevolutionary War
Sub Era: Creating a New Government
Order a Copy Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.