John Adams’ Mood Swings
While you have heard about John Adams, a Founding Father and the second President of the United States of America, there is one big trait of John that many have not heard. John Adams was known to be a blunt man who was asked to write the Declaration of Independence. However, Adams refused, stating Thomas Jefferson would be a better fit because Jefferson was more respected than him. The reason why John Adams was not well liked was not just because he was blunt but because a lot of other Colonial Americans could not handle his crazy mood swings.
John Adams was upfront with the fact that he was not particularly a people person. In one of his letters, he wrote that he could treat everyone with decency and converse with them when necessary. However, Adams also added that there were few people he enjoyed conversing with. While Adams was warm and loving with his family, he was also known for a short temper. This notorious short temper did not lend well to winning friends.
Historians believe that part of Adams’ mood swings coincided with public criticism or lack of recognition for achievements. From a young age, John Adams was determined and strived to succeed. Furthermore, like most people, he liked to be recognized for his achievements. However, not everyone can succeed in everything and when Adams failed, he took it personally and not in good taste. Adams also seemed to be a bit paranoid as he was quick to believe others were plotting to discredit him. Of course, this did not help him in relationships with the public.
Other historians believe John Adams had something else going on. They think he might have had an undiagnosed mental illness or other internal issues. John Adams was known to battle depression from time to time, often occurring when he felt failure or became ill. Some people also believe that he might have had a thyroid imbalance which could have attributed to his mood swings. Whatever the case might be, John Adams became well-known for his outbursts and mood swings in Colonial American society. And Adams knew it too, as he felt his passions made him erupt like a volcano. He also talked about how he could not control these passions, saying it was like they murdered their owner.
Like everyone, John Adams had internal demons he faced often and could not completely control. But even so, John Adams is still a very remarkable man in the Colonial and Revolutionary eras. He was not only a Founding Father and the second President of the United States but also helped negotiate the 1783 Treaty of Paris and an author. John Adams lived to see the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, dying on that day. It is said, his last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives.” Even though, unknown to Adams, Jefferson had died a few hours before.