Question

july 4, 1826, was a day full of celebrations, parades, and enthusiastic speeches. after all, it was america’s 50th birthday! fifty years before, on july 4, 1776, the declaration of independence was published and read. thomas jefferson was the document’s primary author and john adams was part of the famed committee of five, which advised jefferson.
adams and jefferson played prominently in american history. adams was america’s second president and jefferson was its third. the two had a complicated relationship. while they both helped shape the new nation, their political beliefs diverged. adams believed that power belonged with a strong central government and jefferson believed that power belonged with the states. jefferson believed in the french revolution and adams did not. over time, the relationship between the two founding fathers soured further, resulting in both parties engaging in attempts to smear the other in public before the election of 1800. when jefferson won the election, adams returned to massachusetts to live in virtual seclusion with abigail, his wife. following jefferson’s presidency, he retired to his estate named monticello in charlottesville, virginia.
in 1809, the famous doctor benjamin rush urged both jefferson and adams to rekindle their friendship. adams made the first overture and wrote jefferson a letter on january 1, 1812. over the next 14 years, the pair wrote 158 letters to each other. the letters discussed their different political views, theories on government, history, the state of the nation, and even the growing threat of slavery to the future of the new nation.
on july 3, 1826, just a day before the 50th birthday of the declaration of independence, thomas jefferson fell into a coma after suffering from a long, intestinal illness. he died on july 4th. meanwhile, john adams, who was nearing his 91st birthday, collapsed in his reading chair on july 4th. he lapsed in and out of consciousness for the next few hours before succumbing. his last words were said to be, “thomas jefferson still survives.” little did he know that jefferson had outlived him by several hours. both john adams and thomas jefferson died on the same exact day – july 4, 1826. it just so happened that the day marked america’s 50th birthday.
how did the political views of jefferson and adams diverge?
○ because adams believed in a strong central government and that the french revolution was a positive event
○ because jefferson believed in a strong central government and that the french revolution was a positive event
○ because adams believed in a strong central government and jefferson believed power should remain with the states
○ because adams believed in the french revolution and jefferson did not believe in the french revolution

Explanation:

The text states Adams favored a strong central government and supported the French Revolution, while Jefferson believed power should rest with the states and did not back the French Revolution. This matches the fourth option.

Answer:

Because Adams believed in a strong central government and Jefferson believed power should remain with the states; Because Adams believed in the French Revolution and Jefferson did not believe in the French Revolution