After a long hiatus, In the Archives returns with the story of one of the most famous letters in American history. In this episode, “Dear Listener, America Is Free,” we explore John Adams’s July 3, 1776 letter to Abigail Adams, written just after the vote for independence. From the failures of the Revolutionary War to Adams’s vision for future Fourth of July celebrations, this episode examines the fears, hopes, and patriotism surrounding America’s birth.