Celebrating Independence P5

Following his presidency, Adams was elected to serve in the US House of Representatives. He became the only American to serve in the House after being president (although six presidents served in the US House before becoming president). Adams spent the rest of his life as an anti-slavery leader in Congress and eventually died in 1848 from a stroke he suffered while on the floor of the US House Of Representatives.

In 1837, Adams began his famous Fourth of July speech by asking the assembled crowd a light-hearted question: Why is it, friends and fellow citizens, that you are here assembled? Why is it that entering the 62nd year of our national existence you have honored me with an invitation to address you?

The answer was easy: they had asked him to speak because he was older than most and could still personally remember what had actually occurred in the Revolution. He then asked the crowd; Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day, the Fourth of July? 

More on this next week for another American Moment.

Sourced from The American Story: The Beginnings by David Barton and Tim Barton.