"the revolution was effected before the war commenced. the revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations…. this radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real american revolution." —john adams, second president of the united states what is the meaning of this quotation? essays like common sense were unnecessary because the war would have happened anyway. revolutionary leaders like adams considered changing ideas and beliefs to be more important than the battles themselves. revolutionary ideas like those expressed in paine’s writings would not have been possible without the actual battles of the revolutionary war.