For Adams it was especially distressing to witness such conspicuous failure in the first formation of Government erected by the People themselves on their own Authority, without the poisonous Interposition of Kings and Priests. There was, to be sure, such a thing as The Cause, but the glorious potency of that concept did not translate to The People of the United States.16
Adams found it deeply troubling to observe the evident shortcomings in the initial government established by the people, free from the influence of monarchs or religious figures. Despite the existence of a noble cause that inspired many, the actual implementation and realization of that ideal fell short among the citizens of the United States.
This disparity between high ideals and practical governance left Adams disheartened. The promise of self-governance and independence was not fully manifesting in the experiences of the American populace, indicating a significant disconnect between revolutionary aspirations and the reality of political life.
