A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America

By John Adams

Published in 1787-1788

Reference #0017-0019

Rare, First Edition in Three Volumes. “Adams wrote this fundamental contribution to American political theory when he was the American ambassador at the Court of St. James.

Published in London and immediately reprinted in New York and Philadelphia, the ‘Defence’ was a profound influence on the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the framers of several post-Revolutionary state constitutions.

It also did much to familiarize Europeans with the novel political events taking place in America.” “Adams’s essay played a key role in the development of American political philosophy, notably in defence of the separation of powers.” “Its timeliness gave it vogue; but it is chiefly remembered for the unjustifiable partisan interpretation given it in later years as an attempt to favor a monarchy.”

Works By John Adams