History Funny / SeventeenSeventySix

** When Adams says that he will ''make'' Jefferson write the Declaration, staging often dictates they advance glaring at each other until Adams -- who is typically played by an actor much shorter than the actor playing Jefferson -- is scowling upwards into Mr. J's face.

* The argument over whether the national bird is going to be [[{{Eagleland}} an eagle]], [[DisturbedDoves a dove]]... [[OneOfTheseThingsIsNotLikeTheOthers or a]] [[HistoricalInJoke turkey]].[[note]][[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer A turkey really was Franklin's pitch for the national bird]].[[/note]]

'''John Adams:''' Not him, Franklin, ''you''!

'''Jefferson:''' [leaning down to look Adams in the eye]]: How?\\
'''John''': by ''physical force,'' if necessary.

'''John:''' ''[five feet eight]'' I!

'''Adams''': I happen to be a Harvard graduate, Mr. Jefferson. (some laughs from Congress)\\
'''Jefferson''': And ''I'' attended William & Mary. (more cheers)\\

'''Jefferson''' (relishing the moment): No, sir, I will not.\\
'''Adams''' (realizes he can't win): Oh, very well, I'll withdraw it!\\
'''Franklin''': Good for you, John!

* "I have come to a conclusion that one useless man may be called a disgrace, two a law firm, and three a Congress."

* "The Lees of Old Virginia." Franklin's wheedling, Lee serving [[LargeHam a large helping of ham]] quite generous-''Lee'', and Adams as a wholly unwilling participant in the entire number. After it's over, he calls in "the most revolting display I ever witnessed." Not Lee, ''Franklin'', for inciting it. It gets even better in the movie: when Lee returns for his unexpected reprise, Adams winds up falling into the fountain.

'''As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''

* "FIRE WAGON!!" [=MacNair's=] delighted face and his trembling with excitement really makes the scene. And then nearly the ''entire congress of grown men'' races outside like a bunch of children to see what's on fire.

** For that matter, the [[ScrewTheWarWerePartying New Brunswick dispatch]] itself.
--->'''Witherspoon:''' There must be some mistake -- I have an aunt who lives in New Brunswick!\\

'''Adams''': It doesn't matter. I won't be in the history books anyway, only you. Franklin did this and Franklin did that and Franklin did some other damn thing. Franklin smote the ground and out sprang... UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington, fully grown and on his horse. Franklin then electrified him with his miraculous lightning rod and the three of them -- Franklin, Washington, and the horse -- conducted the entire revolution by themselves.\\

'''Franklin''': I like it.

--->'''Adams''': Standing down here waiting for them to...uuhhhh...well what will people think?\\
'''Franklin''': Don't worry John, the history books will clean it up.

* John and Abigail's first song in "Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve," both of them completely unimpressed with the other's problems:

** When John demands to know why the ladies aren't making saltpeter, Abigail points out that he neglected to tell them '''how'''.

* Jefferson sings along with the delegates during "But, Mr. Adams", happily helping support the other committee members' reasons not to be the drafter, until he realizes that only leaves Adams, who's "obnoxious and disliked," and himself, meaning he couldn't leave for Virginia.

* At the beginning:

'''Adams''': I have more to do than to sit here and listen to you quote yourself.\\
'''Franklin''': Oh, no, that was a new one!

-->'''Franklin''': (to arriving delegate Dr. Lyman Hall) "What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a Great Man before?"

* "[[LargeHam A RRRACE]] [[ViolentGlaswegian OF BARRRRBARIANS!?]]"

-->'''Adams''': You mean they're going to... ''in the middle of the afternoon??''\\

'''Adams''': I happen to be a Harvard graduate, Mr. Jefferson. (some laughs from congress)\\

-->'''John:''' ''[pointedly looking away from the scene]'' Jefferson, kindly introduce me to your wife! ''[looks back at them]'' She is your wife, isn't she?

--->'''Franklin:''' Of course she is. Look at the way they fit.

--->'''John:''' By treating potassium chloride with sodium nitrate, of course!\\

'''Adams:''' '''''[BigShutUp QUIET!!!]]''''' Jefferson! Mr. Jefferson!\\

** After Adams and Franklin call back at Jefferson's home after his night with his wife

-->''[pointedly looking away from the scene]'' Jefferson, kindly introduce me to your wife! ''[looks back at them]'' She is your wife, isn't she?"

--->"Of course she is. Look at the way they fit."

'''Adams:''' QUIET! Jefferson! Mr. Jefferson!\\

* "Are you calling me a madman, you... you ''fribble''?!

'''Franklin''': (half asleep) Like hell I am. What for?\\

([[KavorkaMan Franklin gets up and marches off right behind Adams]])

** The scene where he's trying to write: writes a little, then crumples up the paper. then he writes even LESS on the next sheet before crumpling it, and finally, he just stares at the next one before crumpling it.

* "[[LargeHam A NEETION]] [[ViolentGlaswegian OF BARRRRBARIANS!?]]"

-->"[pointedly looking away from the scene] Jefferson, kindly introduce me to your wife! ''[looks back at them]'' She is your wife, isn't she?"
** The slightly more worldly Franklin, meanwhile, has the kind of "Aww, how sweet" look on his face normally reserved for newborn kittens.

** In response to the long list of various illness their children are afflicted with, Adams replies "Madam, what else is new?"[[labelnote:*]]Granted, in RealLife he was more worried about these things.[[/labelnote]]

** That this is met with Abigail's "more urgent" problem: a pin shortage in Massachusetts, which she demands that John resolve before she sends him saltpeter--and wins.

-->'''Chase''': "Someone oughta' ooooooopen up a window!"\\

-->'''[=MacNair=]:''' Better get yourself back down to Congress, Mister Adams. Gettin' ready to vote, and they say they can't settle such an important question without Massachusetts bein' there.\\

** Morris then goes on to explain that [[TakeThat nothing ever gets done in his legislature because they're too busy arguing.]] Also, New York's law at the time was that they could attend congress, [[FridgeLogic but could not vote.]]

** The scene where he's trying to write: writes a little, then crumples up the paper. then he writes even LESS on the next sheet before crumpling it, and finally he just stares at the next one before crumpling it.

* Adams finally brings up one last quibble about the Declaration: arguing that the word is "unalienable" not "inalienable":
-->'''Jefferson''': I'm sorry, Mr. Adams, but "Inalienable" is correct.\\

'''Jefferson''': Well, I attended William & Mary. (more cheers)\\
'''Hancock''': Mr. Jefferson, will you concede to Mr. Adams' request?\\

'''Adams''' (realizes he can't win): Oh, very well, I withdraw it!\\
'''Franklin''': Oh, good for you, John!

-->"[pointedly looking away from the scene] Jefferson, kindly introduce me to your wife! [looks back at them] She is your wife, isn't she?"

'''Abigail:''' [[SarcasmMode Oh yes, of course!]]\\

** John's lament at God. He lists all the different disasters and plagues that might have afflicted the American continent, concluding with: "But no; you sent us ''Congress!'' Good God, sir, was that fair?"

* Jefferson sings along with the delegates during "But, Mr Adams," happily helping support the other committee members' reasons not to be the drafter, until he realizes that only leaves Adams, who's "obnoxious and disliked," and himself, meaning he couldn't leave for Virginia.

* The argument over whether the national bird is going to be [[{{Eagleland}} an eagle]], [[DisturbedDoves a dove]]... [[OneOfTheseThingsIsNotLikeTheOthers or a]] [[HistoricalInJoke turkey]].

* "Judge Wilson, in your eagerness to be loved you forget that Pennsylvania [[SuddenlyShouting CANNOT SECOND ITS OWN MOTION!"]]

'''F, L, & S:''' ''HOMICIIIIIDE~~~! HOMICIIIIIDE!''\\

* [[RunningGag New York abstains.]]
** [[InsistentTerminology Courteously]].
--->'''Hancock:''' Mr. Morris. '''''WHAT IN HELL GOES ON IN NEW YORK?!'''''
** Morris then goes on to explain that [[TakeThat nothing ever gets done in his legislature because they're too busy arguing.]]
*** Also, New York's law at the time was that they could attend congress, [[FridgeLogic but could not vote.]]

** Made funnier by the fact that Adams ''actually was a lawyer''.
*** ''[[HypocriticalHumor As was Dickinson]].''

* "FIRE WAGON!!" [=MacNair's=] delighted face and his trembling with excitement really makes the scene. And then nearly the ''entire congress of grown men'' race outside like a bunch of children to see what's on fire.

*** For that matter, the [[ScrewTheWarWerePartying New Brunswick dispatch]] itself.
---->'''Witherspoon:''' There must be some mistake -- I have an aunt who lives in New Brunswick!\\

** Franklin's first question, upon learning his son was arrested by Revolutionary forces: "Is he unharmed?" After a yes, his second question: "Tell me, why did they arrest the little bastard?"
*** Also doubles as a HistoricalInJoke as his son actually ''was'' a bastard (in the "parents are unmarried" sense).

* "[[LargeHam A NEETION]] [[ViolentGlaswegian OF BRRRRBARIANS!?]]"

* "The Lees of Old Virginia." Franklin's wheedling, Lee serving [[LargeHam a large helping of ham]] quite generous-''Lee'', and Adams as a wholly unwilling participant in the entire number. After it's over, he calls in "the most revolting display I ever witnessed." Not Lee, ''Franklin'', for inciting it.
** It gets even better in the movie: when Lee returns for his unexpected reprise, Adams winds up falling into the fountain.

'''Adams:''' [[YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe ... oh good God.]]

'''Franklin''': Oh, that was a new one!

'''Dickinson:''' [[BerserkButton LAWYER!]]\\

*** ''As was Dickinson.''

'''F, L, & S:''' ''HOMICIIIIIDE~~~! HOMICIIIIIDE~~~!''\\

'''F, L, & S:''' ''HOMICIDE! HOMICIDE!''\\

** Morris then goes on to explain that [[TakeThat nothing ever gets done in his legislature because they're too busy arguing.]] [label:note Also, New York's law at the time was that they could attend congress, [[FridgeLogic but could not vote.]]]
* "Are you calling me a madman, you... you ''fribble''?!"

** Morris then goes on to explain that [[TakeThat nothing ever gets done in his legislature because they're too busy arguing.]] [[label:note Also, New York's law at the time was that they could attend congress, [[FridgeLogic but could not vote.]] ]]

** Morris then goes on to explain that [[TakeThat nothing ever gets done in his legislature because they're too busy arguing.]]

* "But Mr. Adams."

* "Mr. Morris. '''''WHAT IN HELL GOES ON IN NEW YORK?!'''''"

** Also fribble is an actual word along with piddle, twiddle, pish posh, [[HaveAGayOldTime gay, and queer]].

* [[RunningGag New York abstains.]]
** [[InsistentTerminology Courteously]].

---> '''Jefferson''': Damn the man. God ''damn'' the man.

-->'''John:''' By treating potassium chloride with sodium nitrate, of course!\\