Highlights

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams resumed their friendship in January 1812 after over a decade of political estrangement
The reconciliation was facilitated largely through the efforts of mutual friend Benjamin Rush
The two Founding Fathers exchanged over 150 letters between 1812 and their deaths in 1826
Their correspondence covered wide-ranging topics including philosophy, religion, politics, and reflections on the American Revolution
Both men died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

The estrangement between Jefferson and Adams had its roots in the bitter presidential election of 1800, in which Jefferson defeated Adams, ending his single term as president. Political rivalries and differing visions for the young American republic had driven a wedge between the two men, who had once been close allies during the Revolutionary era. For over ten years, no correspondence passed between them. It was Benjamin Rush, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence and friend to both men, who persistently urged reconciliation, eventually succeeding when Adams sent the first letter in January 1812.

The resulting correspondence is considered one of the most remarkable intellectual exchanges in American history. Writing from Monticello and Quincy respectively, Jefferson and Adams reflected candidly on their lives, the nature of democracy, the role of religion, and the legacy of the revolution they had helped create. The letters reveal both agreement and disagreement, demonstrating the depth and honesty of their renewed friendship. Their simultaneous deaths on July 4, 1826, struck contemporaries as a profound and symbolic conclusion to their parallel lives and shared legacy.