This rationale, which justified the mixed constitution of Great Britain, might have made some sense in 1776, but by 1787 most American thinkers had come to believe that all parts of their balanced governments represented in one way or another the sovereign people. They had left the Aristotelian idea of mixed estates - monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy - way behind. [John] Adams had not, and his stubbornness on this point caused him no end of trouble.
Gordon S. Wood[John] Adams never hid his jealousy and resentment of the other Founders, especially Benjamin Franklin.
Gordon S. Wood[Tomas] Jefferson believed that the United States was a chosen nation with a special responsibility to spread democracy around the world.
Gordon S. Wood[John Adams] diary, of course, is even more revealing of his feelings. Both his letters to [his wife] Abigail and his diary tell us what he really thinks about people and events.
Gordon S. Wood[John Adams] is impressed with [Tomas] Jefferson's learning, but noted his silence during the debates in the Congress: "I never heard him utter three Sentences together."
Gordon S. Wood