John Adams And The Origin Of American Conservatism

John Adams (1735-1826) is a famous statesman and thinker in American Early History. The research on John Adams' conservative political thought will be helpful to evaluate the position of John Adams in American Early History and political history correctly, to understand the background of the construction of American constitutional thought and system exhaustively, and to recognize the role of John Adams in the history of American conservative thought.The research of John Adams has made great progress since 20 century in America. The achievements about the source of his ideas, experience, political thought and evaluation are fruitful. However, the research on the relations between John Adams and the origin of American conservatism is insufficient. This article tries to do some exploratory study on the basis of achievements ready-made.The first part is "the Backgrounds and Roots of John Adams' Thought". The article presents that Adams' conservative thought belongs to his education and experience. And the author tries to discuss the complicated concept of conservatism from etymology and academic survey.The second part is "Doctrine and Ruler: Individual, Society and Law". There are two premises of Adams' approach of doctrine and ruler: society and state prefers to individual and there is natural inequality among people. These two premises are the starting point to understand Adams' conservative ideas. John Adams believes that the establishment of social doctrine and ruler relies on three requirements: approves the right of private property, respects legal system and affirms the separation, check and balance of power.The third part is "Tradition and Change". The different arguments on tradition and change are two important marks to distinguish conservatism and liberalism. Adams embodies his conservative views in his statements of human nature, ethics and religion, traditional value and method of change etc.The forth part is "John Adams and the Way of American Conservatism". Adams' conservative thought has a close relationship with American early political circumstances, especially with the conservative concepts of the Puritanism in New England. John Adams is a real conservative earlier than Edmund Burke in time period. And he is even a conservative comparing with the latter in depth and breadth.And at last, the author thinks that John Adams has played a pivotal role in American early political history and in the origin of the American conservatism.