Africa and the Lessons of the American Revolution

What was the greatest test of the American Revolution? Was it when the signers of the Declaration of Independence sealed their document and watched it sail toward England, knowing what they had started? Or was it when the Articles of Confederation were determined to be inadequate as a governing document, and a new Constitution was needed? Perhaps it was all those bloody battles during the Revolutionary War, where men suffered from malnutrition and hypothermia, ready to quit. Though each of these events are considered important to the Revolution, they were not the greatest test. The greatest test was in 1800. Long after the Constitution had been ratified and George Washington had served his two terms as this nation's first President. John Adams had just lost the Presidential Election of 1800 to Thomas Jefferson. When John Adams ceded power to his political rival, I believe that to be the cementing of the greatness of the American Revolution. It would be a lesson that some current African leaders would be keen to heed; losing an election may be hard, but relinquishing control can be the greatest gift an ousted leader can give.

When George Washington died in 1799, the Federalist Party was in deep trouble. They had lost their uniter, and thus were destined to lose power. John Adams lost a hard fought election to a most bitter rival, Thomas Jefferson. It could have been so easy for Adams to turn his back on the system of government he himself had fought so hard for decades before. It most certainly would have been the end of the American Revolution if John Adams had ignored the will of the electors. It would not have been the first time a leader refused to acknowledge the will of the people. Kings and Queens had been doing it for centuries, why should the Americans be any different? John Adams, of course did not betray America, and handed the keys of power to his opponent. This changeover set the standard for this country to follow long after Adams died in 1826. It is this lesson that two recent African leaders have chosen to ignore at their own countries' peril.

This past December, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki seemed to have lost an election to his rival, Raila Odinga. Allegations of ballot-stuffing and vote-fixing tarnished both sides of the election, and Kenya descended into chaos. Kibaki showed just how difficult it can be for a leader to heed the will of an election. He had stymied his country's growth and lost his bid for the Presidency. Instead of ceding power, he clung to it, ensuring the near-destruction of his own country. More recently, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe seems to have lost his latest bid to remain President. So far, there has not been violence on the scale of Kenya, but nothing is concluded yet. After nearly 30 years of power, Mugabe has nearly destroyed his country with 100,000%inflation, astronomical unemployment, and an administration frought with corruption. It appears that his time is at an end, but will he leave?

John Adams did more for his country by leaving than will ever be acknowledged in the history books. His presidency was marred by the Alien and Sedition Act as well as a near war with France. Power is not an easy thing to release, just ask Fidel Castro. Next January will be a lesson for the American people as President Bush will hand power over to most likely a political opponent. Change is necessary to correct the ills of the past and guide a new future. Kenya lost that opportunity in December, Zimbabwe will likely miss theirs, thankfully we will not miss ours. Good governance does not just mean just laws, and a working legal system. It can also mean leaving when your time is up. That is the unsung legacy that John Adams gave to the Revolution in 1801.