Brooke Zirker

American Literature

Professor Lee

19 February 2017

Revolutionary Letters

During the American Revolution, John Adams was elected as one of the Massachusetts member in the Second Continental Congress while his wife, Abigail Adams stayed home raising their children and looking after the family farm. While John was gone, the two exchanged hundreds of letters discussing health, kids, the revolution, and politics. In these letters they would discuss these topics in an almost “playful” way. John Adams would often discuss the government and how he wanted freedom. Abigail Adams would discuss the idea that women should do more than just serve their families. She believed that they should have some say the decisions as well. A major, recurring theme in the letters between John and Abigail Adams is the  revolutionary idea of women’s rights. 

Before Abigail Adams brings up this idea of women’s rights, she show shows in these letters that she wants to be involved with the revolutionary war from Abigail Adams. She isn’t like most of the other women at this time period. At this time period, women were to be good supportive wives, take care of the family, and occasionally take part in boycotts and riots.  And while Abigail Adams did take care of her family, she was so much more than an ordinary housewife, she wanted to be part of the action. In the letter that Abigail Adams wrote to her husband on March 16th 1776, she goes on for three entire pages explaining the current state of their nation, each of the victories and every single detail of the war wars they’ve been fighting in. She gives him the amount of deaths amongst the troops and the people, and goes so far as to explain to her husband the next moves for their country (Abigail Adams). You can tell by her vast amount of knowledge and enthusiasm about the war that she is wanting to be part of this war. This war isn’t just about men, the women are part of it as well. When she describes the war you can tell that this women is constantly up to date with every piece of news and exactly what's going on around her. She doesn’t just sit at home taking care of the children, she is actively involved in this movement for freedom. In the same letter to John Adams she writes, “Pray write Lord Sterling's character. I want to know whether you love in any harmony with -- (Most likely Robert Treat Paine) and how you setled matters. I think he seems in better humour” (Abigail Adams). In another letter from John Adams dated March 19th 1776, Abigail has asked what common sense was and in this letter she explains this pamphlet to her (John Adams). As shown in each of these examples, she wants to know, she wants to know, she wants to be educated on each of these subjects. Even though she hasn’t actually shared her opinion on women’s rights, you can see these ideas slowly starting to develop as she wants starts getting more and more involved in the war.

By the late March of 1776, Abigail is so interested in the war and in the decisions that are being made for her country, she brings up this idea of women acquiring more rights. The whole reason behind the American Revolution was freedom, liberty, and this idea of forming an equal, new nation. Abigail found it slightly hypocritical that this “new nation” is supposed to be founded on equality, yet women still don’t have any rights. In her letter to John Adams dated March 31 through April 5 1776 she says “I long to hear that you have declared an independency and by the way in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors” (Abigail Adams).  She is pleading to her husband, telling him to give the women a voice, let them be part of the major decisions being made in their country. She gives him a warning that if the men do not entertain the idea of women’s rights then the women will come together and rebel (Abigail Adams). John Adams answers back saying that he couldn’t help but laugh at this letter and says she was being very “saucy”. She continue to discuss and argue over the subject throughout most of their letters in the next year. Through these letters John recognized that Abigail wanted a voice. She was one of the very first women in America to declare the necessity for women's rights.

In these letters, not only does Abigail Adams frequently write about the revolution but also shares her opinion on the each of the subjects. Before the Revolutionary war started, women were expected to support their husband’s vote/opinion one hundred percent of the time. Abigail Adams was not like this. Abigail Adams was a fiery woman, everything she wrote about was filled with passion and very strong feelings toward the events going on around her. She was not even remotely hesitant to voice her opinion. As mentioned earlier, she was one of the first women to actually share her opinion. She believed that everyone is equal and that she should be able to voice her opinion. In one of the letters from Abigail Adams to John Adams on April 14 1776, she tells John Adams that she so nervous and anxious about the war and that so many things need to be done. She proceeds to tell him that they are supposed to hold court, but explains that she doesn’t believe that this will happen because of the people involved with the court (Abigail Adams). Not every women would talk about people like this. Abigail Adams wanted to be heard. John Adams knew this to be true, he even asks for her opinion on some of the letters. In one letter that he wrote to her on April 12 1776. He asks her why she thinks other countries believe that they are a Sovereign State ( John Adams). Throughout these letters you can see John Adams asking for her opinion and that she truly believed that everyone is equal and everyone has the right to give their opinion.

Throughout all of these letters, the idea of women having a voice and being involved in the revolution is shown through many different elements. This includes all of their arguments, the way Abigail writes about the war and the way John Adams wants to hear her opinion.

                                                                 

                                                                  Works Cited

Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 14 April 1776 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

---, 31 March - 5 April 1776 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

 ---, 16 - 18 March 1776 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 12 April 1776 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers: An EleLetter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 19 March 1776 [electronic edition]. Adams Family Papers:

---,  An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. ctronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.