America 250 Moments
John Adams
4/21/2026 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Why did John Adams clash with Benjamin Franklin?
Why did John Adams clash with Benjamin Franklin?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
America 250 Moments is a local public television program presented by APT
America 250 Moments
John Adams
4/21/2026 | 1mVideo has Closed Captions
Why did John Adams clash with Benjamin Franklin?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(bright music) - [Presenter] Why did John Adams clash with Benjamin Franklin?
As a lawyer, Adams gained prominence through his opposition to British policies.
He was also a part of the Committee of Five who drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Adams worked effectively with Benjamin Franklin to gain French support and negotiated peace with Britain, ending the Revolutionary War.
Even so, Franklin's easygoing attitude and popularity with the French clashed with Adam's rigid personality and distrust of the French.
They also didn't agree on the limits of federal power.
Adam's argued for a strong national government with three balanced branches while Franklin supported a weak central government with no executive branch.
Adams would go on to become vice president under George Washington and later the second president of the United States.
After retiring, Adams famously died on the same day as Thomas Jefferson, July 4th, 1826.
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America 250 Moments is a local public television program presented by APT