Why did Jefferson and Adams have issues as friends?

Answer 1

They had issues for a number of reasons. First, they had opposing political beliefs about the role and nature of government. Adams was for a strong central government. Jefferson was for a weaker one that left more governmental power to the individual states. Adams believed government should be left to the care of wiser men than the general public. Jefferson believed government by the general public was exactly what the revolution was all about in the first place. They came to be leaders of the two different political parties, Federalist and Republican, that sprang up among the citizens and politicians of the time. This led to opposing political factions forming, each wanting the other out of the way and each looking to Adams or Jefferson to lead them. They both let these political differences become personal dislikes. This was because they began to see each other as turning his back on the ideals that led to the new country in the first place. Another issue that arose was that Jefferson, along with James Madison, was working behind Adams' back to unseat Adams as president, even though Jefferson was Adams's Vice-president. Jefferson had written a letter to a friend of his that was critical of Adams's political views. The letter somehow became public to the embarassment of Adams. Adams was so angry he refused to speak to Jefferson for many years. Even Abigail Adams was furious with Jefferson and wrote him telling him that he was two-faced. Jefferson's Behind the Scenes actions against Adams were successful, and Jefferson beat Adams in the next presidential election after Adams had served only one term. Adams left office without staying to see Jefferson sworn in. John Adams was a difficult man to get along with. He even disliked his staunchest fellow Federalist, Alexander Hamilton. It is was no surprise that Adams and Jefferson eventually had their falling out, since Adams was hardly liked by anyone around him, except Abigail. In fact, while Adams was president, he relied more on her than on his own cabinet members for advice. The surprising thing was that the two managed to reconcile their friendship later on.

Answer 2

Adams and Jefferson were friends during the Continental Congress in 1775, and stayed friends until Adams became president. Their conflicting political views ended their friendship.