Was the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 a model for other states?

OCR: 1 cited passage(s) are machine-read (OCR) text of old printings; quotations reproduce the stored OCR text, misreadings included.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• ACTION (1775-05): John Adams prepared a draft of a constitution for Massachusetts in September 1775, which was later accepted with minor changes. The passage shows that he was tasked with drafting the constitution, indicating his active role in its creation. "The task was committed to John Adams, who performed it. To them the draught was first submitted, and they accepted it, with one or two trifling erasures." [1]
• BELIEF (1775-05): John Adams believed that the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 was a model for other states, as it was considered a perfect example of government based on the people's rights and equality, and he wished its progress to be preserved. He also stated that it was a model for all independent, civilized communities to secure the great ends of human society. "It is Locke, Sidney, and Rousseau and De Mably reduced to practice, in the first instance... Massachusetts must, in this case, be regarded as the type of all independent, civilized communities, to which it is designed to present a model of government adapted to secure the great ends of human society." [2]
• BELIEF (undated): John Adams believed that the Massachusetts Constitution contributed to the Constitutions of New York, the United States, and the last Constitutions of Pennsylvania and Georgia. This is based on his own statement that his writings, including the Constitution of Massachusetts, 'undoubtedly contributed to produce' those other constitutions. (key quote above) [3]
• BELIEF (1807-07-28): John Adams believed that the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 made the Constitution of the United States, implying it served as a model for other states. (key quote above) [4]
• BELIEF (1809-06-19): John Adams believed that the Massachusetts Constitution was a model for other states that agreed with it in the distribution of legislative power into three branches, in separating the executive from the legislative power, and the judiciary power from both. This is based on his statement that his defense of the American Constitutions had only the Massachusetts Constitution in view, and such others as agreed with it in these aspects. "I had only the Massachusetts Constitution in view, and such others as agreed with it in the distribution of the legislative power into three branches, in separating the executive from the legislative power, and the judiciary power from both." [5]
• BELIEF (1809-06-19): John Adams believed that his Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 was criticized by some French intellectuals, who admired Franklin's Pennsylvania Constitution instead. He thought that his Constitution was reprobated by Turgot, the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, and Condorcet, who favored a single assembly government. "Mr. Turgot, the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, and Mr. Condorcet and others, admired Mr. Franklin's Constitution and reprobated mine." [6]
• ACTION (1823-09-17): John Adams wrote on 17 September 1823 that his letter to Wythe was used as a model for the New York Constitution, indicating that the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 served as a model for other states. "He had gone home, with my letter to Wythe in his pocket, for his model and foundation; and the same Duane, after the Constitution appeared, asked me if it was not sufficiently conformable to my letter to Wythe." [7]
• ACTION (editor's note) (undated; editor's note, not his words): The Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, as presented by John Adams for the consideration of the Convention of Massachusetts, became the foundation of most of the constitutions adopted in the several States. (key quote above) [8]

What cuts against it

• ACTION (1798-06-15): John Adams wrote to the Massachusetts legislature, emphasizing the importance of Massachusetts taking an early and decided part in matters of national safety and welfare, but this does not directly contradict the idea that the Massachusetts Constitution served as a model for other states. "The anxiety, the ancient and constant habit of the people of Massachusetts and their legislature, to take an early and decided part in whatever relates to the safety and welfare of their country..." [9]

• ACTION (1774-06-29): John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams about Theophilus Bradbury, a Massachusetts judge and revolutionary figure, but this passage does not address the Massachusetts Constitution's influence on other states. [10]

• ACTION (1777-06-02): John Adams wrote to Nathanael Greene about the importance of religion and morality in the military, but this does not pertain to the Massachusetts Constitution's influence on other states. "It is certain that Religion and Morality have no less obligations upon Armies, than upon Cities and contribute no less to the Happiness of Soldiers than of Citizens." [11]

• ACTION (1823-09-17): John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson about the Spanish constitution being modeled after the French one, but this does not contradict the Massachusetts Constitution's influence on other states. "The Spaniards have adopted all this, with the singular addition that the members of the Cortes can serve only two years?" [7]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. John Adams drafted the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which he believed was a model for other states. "The task was committed to John Adams, who performed it." [1]

2. He explicitly stated that the Massachusetts Constitution contributed to the Constitutions of New York, the United States, and the last Constitutions of Pennsylvania and Georgia. "They undoubtedly, also, contributed to the writings of Publius, called the Federalist..." [3]

3. He believed that the Massachusetts Constitution was a model for all independent, civilized communities to secure the great ends of human society. "Massachusetts must, in this case, be regarded as the type of all independent, civilized communities..." [2]

4. He wrote that his letter to Wythe was used as a model for the New York Constitution, indicating that the Massachusetts Constitution served as a model for other states. "He had gone home, with my letter to Wythe in his pocket, for his model and foundation..." [7]

5. An editor's note confirms that the Massachusetts Constitution became the foundation of most of the constitutions adopted in the several States. (key quote above) [8]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

John Adams directly addressed the question of whether the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 served as a model for other states. He stated that it contributed to the Constitutions of New York, the United States, and the last Constitutions of Pennsylvania and Georgia. He also believed it was a model for all independent, civilized communities.

Extrapolation: John Adams believed the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 was a model for other states and influenced the development of other state and national constitutions.

Competing readings: None. The record directly supports the conclusion that John Adams believed the Massachusetts Constitution was a model for other states.

Confidence: High. The evidence is direct and comes from multiple letters and writings by John Adams, including his autobiography and correspondence with contemporaries.