Question

Joseph Ellis cites two reasons why he believes John Adams took the "fateful step, which led to a fourteen year exchange of 158 letters" between him and Jefferson. Explain both of these reasons.

Answer 1

The first reason that Joseph Ellis have to believe that John Adams exchanged the 158 letters with Jefferson, was because Adams and Jefferson had different points of view about what the American Revolution meant, which they discussed around the 14 years of exchange of the letters. The second reason was basically that Adams and Jefferson want to put an end to their differences by exchanging their ideas. The existence of this correspondence allowed to have historical evidence of Joseph Ellis, John Adams and Jefferson and their relevant participation during the American Revolution.