Although both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were Founding Fathers of America and played a profound influence in shaping the emerging nation's laws and policies after America became a nation, the two men differed substantially in their attitudes towards diplomatic relations with France. Adams was president during the XYZ affair, when Revolutionary France prevented American ships from trading with England, during France's war with England. This caused Adams to respond with fear and hostility towards France, despite Jefferson's more positive feelings towards the nation.
             Later, Jefferson defeated Adams in the presidential election of 1800, partly because of Adams' loss of popularity due to his clumsy handling of diplomatic affairs with France. Adams' loyal wife Abigail bitterly resented Jefferson's ascent to the presidency. Also, Abigail disliked France, by and large, and when she visited there she always wished to return to her native America, while Jefferson was a devoted Francophile. Thus, politically and culturally, the two families were at odds, despite their historical proximity and their mutual involvement in the founding of the new nation of America. But the Adams family and Jefferson, were often friends between these periods of quarreling, despite their many personal and policy differences. They corresponded frequently over the course of the events that shaped America during this period, even when they were politically divided.
             It is said that John Adam's last words were "Thomas Jefferson survives" because he did not know that Jefferson had died earlier that day. Despite the fact that the two men became enemies after America's founding, Adams still clearly respected Jefferson's role during the revolution, and the two men reconciled before both of them died on the same day.
             Abigail Adam's political iconoclasm and independence are two of the most interesting aspects of her biography. First of all, Adams was a proto-f...