LITR 4326 Early American Literature Research Posts 2016 (research post assignment) Research Post 1

Shanna Farmer

Abigail Adams: “Remember the Ladies”

Abigail Adams, according to the National First Ladies Library, was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on November 11, 1744, to a Congregationalist minister and his wife. Abigail was a woman who was five feet and one inch in height.  Although she received no formal education, she was given access to her father’s extensive library. At 19 years old, she was married to John Adams, who was a lawyer. She was thrust nearly immediately into the role of motherhood and eventually became steward of Peacefield, Massachusetts. During this time disputes between the American Colonies and England were beginning to intensify. A woman’s status in this time period was commonly subordinate to her husband. They were caretakers of the children and overseers of their homes, but it is impossible to believe they took no interest in the political upheaval that was going on around them for it affected them in an extreme way. How great an influence did Abigail Adams have on her husband who would become the second president of the United States?

          Abigail and John had been known to correspond via letters as early as their courtship (Foner). It is here she is able to express her deepest feelings; for instance she wrote to John, “And there is a tye more binding than Humanity, and stronger than Friendship, which makes us anxious for happiness…” (Somervill 26). One might also find it endearing that their pet names for each other were from ancient history or mythology (27). Abigail wrote to John, “Judge you then for your Diana has she not this day had sufficient cause for pain and anxiety or mind . . . .” She is referring to Diana who was the Greek goddess of purity. Their bond grew strong from love and intellect as the author stated that would last them through war, hardships, and separations.

          Perhaps one of Abigail Adams most memorable letters to her husband, John, was sent at a time when he was serving as a delegate for the Continental Congress. As they were drawing up the Declaration of Independence against England, Abigail took the opportunity in her typical feisty and humorous way to let her husband that it was important that the weaker sex not be forgotten as they were creating what would be the first official document of what would become the United States of America. She stated, “ I long to hear that you have declared an independency and by way of 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 favourable to them than your ancestors” (Gelles 14). The significance of her letter essentially sets up women’s civil rights that would come later, but the fact that our founding father’s wives would speak for their freedom as well was something novel. Liberty for woman as we know it obviously comes at a much later time, but the attitude of freedom for all was there from the birth. She goes on to say that, “If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation” (Gelles 15). One can only imagine the spitfire this small woman was. She obviously did not intend to form a rebellion, this was her humorous way of making her point loud and clear to her husband. Something he could understand since he was majorly involved himself in just such a skirmish at the time.

          The approach the Declaration of Independence of written could easily been transferred to the rights of women later on.

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Characters of Freedom).

Abigail wanted rights as well. She told John, “Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could” (Gelles, 15). She recognized that this move for independence could be used to help the civil liberties of her fellow sex. She was in a fortunate position and was tenacious enough to speak for all woman at a crucial time in our country.

          Abigail Adams, wisely used her position as John Adam’s wife to bring to his attention matters of freedom for all the soon to be American people. American’s yearn for freedom was not something that could be easily obstructed by their oppressors. The same tenacity that drove our founding fathers is also found in this small woman. She recognized that she could make her voice heard and the outcome of her opinion was eventually realized. Equality and freedom was something she sought for herself, as she supported her husband’s work as a founding father in our country.

Works Cited

"Abigail Adams Biography." National First Ladies Library. Web. 3 Mar. 2016. <http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=2>.

Foner, Eric, and John A. Garraty. "Abigail Adams." 1991. Web. 3 Mar. 2016. <http://www.history.com/topics/first-ladies/abigail-adams>.

Gelles, Edith B. Abigail Adams: A Writing Life. New York: Routledge, 2002. Print.

Somervill, Barbara A. Abigail Adams: Couregous Patriot and First Lady. Minneapolis: Compass Point, 2006. Print.

“The Characters of Freedom”. Web. 3 Mar. 2016 <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html>