Did John Adams believe all people were equal?
I believed in the natural rights of mankind and the pursuit of happiness, but my conception of equality was not the universal, undifferentiated sameness that some might imagine today. I was acutely aware of the different capacities and duties inherent in society. While all ought to be free, I recognized distinctions based on merit, virtue, and accomplishment. The preservation of liberty, in my view, depended on a well-ordered society with distinct roles and responsibilities, a hierarchy not of birthright but of contribution and capability. My focus was on securing fundamental freedoms for all, but within a structure that acknowledged natural differences.
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