John Adams should replace Jefferson on the nickel.

I think this should be a good one. I ask that the voters please read all that is being presented to them before voting. Thank you! Response: "1) Thomas Jefferson. .. .as it officially established the United States. " 5) Jefferson's preamble to the Declaration became an enduring statement of human rights: "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. " Jefferson is generally credited with writing the document, but there's a whole lot more that went into it. In fact it was John Adams that got Jefferson to consider writing a draft to begin with. Jefferson did not volunteer to write the document, it was only after John Adams encouraged him to do so that he did. [1] Jefferson also used most of the Deceleration from the ideas of the Enlightenment. For instance the line "Certain unalienable rights. .. .life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are not new ideas, in fact over 100 years earlier similar words had been spoken by John Locke: "life, health, liberty, or possessions. " Even just a month before the draft was written a document containing very similar language had appeared in none other then Jefferson's home colony, Virginia. Written by George Madison is said the following: "enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. " [2] To say Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence is a grave ignorance of historical fact. Add that to the fact it was it was heavily edited by the committee of five which Adams served in. The declaration was being authored 200 years before the signing in the hearts and minds of millions of men. "2) As President, Thomas Jefferson presided over two of the most important events in the history of the United States- The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It's interesting you "highlight" these points. First I'd like to note that it's hard to give credit to Jefferson merely because they had an opportunity to do something that others did not. Anyone who was the president at the time would've made the Louisiana purchase. Jefferson just merely was at the right place at the right time. I think it should be noted that the purchase and expedition also goes against the very thing Jefferson preached against, big government. To make the very purchase you highlighted Jefferson had to use the very thing he hated Alexander Hamilton for, the national line of credit and debt he argued against! [3] Jefferson hated debt: "We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds. .. [we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers. .. And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for[ another]. .. till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery. .. And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression. " But once he was in power he no problem defying his own principles. 3) Thomas Jefferson beat John Adams in his reelection bid. Americans clearly knew who the better man was. Sure if you consider lying a principle of the better man. When Jefferson was VP he spread many lies about Adams and really just demoralized the guy. [3] Just because he elected does not mean he was the better man. Let's not forget that Adams did win against Jefferson in the election of 1796, making your point void. Also refer to my contention F below. It would cost money to change the face of the coin from Jefferson to Adams. In fact just the opposite the printing of John Adams nickels could spur collectors to buy them up and actually turn a profit. This is not uncommon and is called seigniorage. [5] Now that let's talk about why Adams deserves to be the nickel. Contentions: A: He was our first vice president. B: Father of our 6th president, John Quincy Adams. He also greatly helped educate John Quincy sending him to Russia for his education and helping him learn skills that he would end up using in his presidency. C: He advocated justice not matter for who and what the cost. He defended the soldiers at the Boston Massacre even though he knew it would hurt his reputation and he wouldn't be paid. He did the impossible and got 6 of the 8 men acquitted and the 2 others only charged with manslaughter down from murder. If he had not been the lawyer the British soldiers would've been falsely prosecuted. The trial was in Boston, the most "revolutionary" of the colonies at the time, and even still he convinced the jury of their innocence. No small feat. D: He was a man of sacrifice. He knew he had an obligation to his country and he did so without hesitation. He spent most of the revolution in France and Holland trying to secure funding and military equipment for our soldiers back home. For someone who wanted to be on the front lines this must have been tough for him. Not even to mention the fact he had to leave his "greatest adviser" and wife back home, Abagael Adams. But he did so in order to help his country no matter the cost. E: He was Ambassador to Britain. I mean you've got to feel for this guy. We just destroyed and embarrassed the greatest empire of all time and who do they choose to go meet the man who was the "last to consent to separation", King George III? That's right, John Adams. I think this video says it better then my words ever can. . http://www.youtube.com... F: He never waived in the face of public opinion. The country put great pressure on him to enter with France . He didn't want American blood shed and preferred to use the diplomatic route. This greatly effected the election of the 1800 with Jefferson wanting war. During the elections a peace treaty was signed, but due to the slow travel of news this would not be known till after the election. [6] G: He was against slavery and never owned slaves. He and his wife Abagail fought against slavery and PAID free black men for help on the farm. You could say Jefferson was against slavery. And he was. In words only. Jefferson owned over 200 slaves. [7] H: John Adams had a HBO mini series that has won more Emmy's then any other miniseries. Ever. Not to mention the 4 Golden globes. If Jefferson is so great then why doesn't he have a HBO series? I: Adams created the Navy [8] K: Jefferson is already honored in many other ways. He is on Mount Rushmore, has a memorial at DC, has college named after him, and is on the two dollar bill. What does Adams have at national scale? Nothing. He deserves to be on the nickel. L: Appointed John Marshal to the supreme court, someone who would very influential in declaring the powers of the court, including judicial review. [9] Even is you could prove Jefferson is the "better man" that doesn't mean Adams should not be on the nickel. All of our founding fathers are great men and deserve to be honored. As I've said Jefferson is already on the two dollar bill, and has numerous other memorabilia, time to Adams some credit. Sources: [1] . http://tinyurl.com... [2] . http://tinyurl.com... [3] . http://tinyurl.com... [4] John Adams by David McCullough [5] . http://tinyurl.com... [6] . http://tinyurl.com... [7] . http://tinyurl.com... [8] . http://tinyurl.com... [9] . http://tinyurl.com...