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The Jubilee of the Constitution

John Quincy Adams · 1839

A speech by John Quincy Adams in 1839, given to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the United States Constitution, in which he reflected on the founding and on popular sovereignty.

Adams wrote and delivered this 1839 oration, which sets out his reading of the founding and popular sovereignty.

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About this source

What it is

This is an oration written and delivered by John Quincy Adams in 1839 for the fiftieth anniversary of the Constitution, addressed to the New York Historical Society. The Library of Congress holds the text. The opening recalls the inauguration of George Washington as President on April 30, 1789, in New York City.

Why it matters

The speech shows Adams's mature view of the nation's founding and of the idea that power comes from the people. It connects his own life to the generation of Washington, whose inauguration he imagines in an elaborate figurative scene. Adams's speech shows how the founding was remembered by a man who had lived through its aftermath.

Look closer

  • Why does Adams use such an imaginative, almost dreamlike opening for a historical occasion?
  • Who was the audience for this speech, and what did they want to hear about the nation's past?
  • What might a speech like this leave out about the people who were not part of the founding?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of John Quincy Adams on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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