Determined for Independence

            More than 300 letters were sent between John and Abigail Adams between 1774 and 1783, each discussing political matters on America’s fight for independence from Britain, as well as family and household matters. Focusing on the letters exchanged from July 13^th to July 27^th, 1776, these took place shortly after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and discussed John Adam’s role in America’s continued fight with Britain, and the Adams family struggle with the smallpox epidemic during the 18^th century. These particular letters show an overall theme of the ambitions and struggles the Adams family, as well as everyone in the thirteen colonies, went through during the revolutionary war.

            Because John Adams was a significant leader in the movement for independence from Britain, it is to be expected that there was talk of the movement throughout their letters, as John would inform Abigail of the current events happening; both for his and Abigail’s appeasement. This can be seen in Abigail’s response to John’s letters from July 3, in which after hearing the news about the Declaration of Independence, says “…and tho your letters never fail to give me pleasure, be the subject what it will, yet it was greatly heightned by the prospect of the future happiness and glory of our country; nor am I a little gratified when I reflect that a person so nearly connected with me has had the honour of being a principal actor, in laying a foundation for its future greatness” (A. Adams, 14 July 1776). The approval of the Declaration of Independence not only brought the spirits of Abigail up, but also throughout the thirteen colonies. Abigail writes to John about a sermon where she and a multitude of other citizens and troops went to see the proclamation for independence read and proclaimed. Once the reading was done, Abigail writes “…the cry from the belcona, was god save our American States and then 3 cheers which rended the air, the bells rang, the privateers fired, the forts and batteries, the cannon were discharged, the platoons followed and every face appeard joyfull” (A. Adams, 21 July 2016).  The Declaration continued to uplift many people when fighting against Lorde Howe, a British Naval officer, and his army. This can be seen in one of John’s writings to Abigail, in which he describes the high spirits of the colonies in the fight against Britain, saying “There is a most amiable, lawdable, and gallant spirit prevailing, in these middle colonies. The militia turn out in great numbers and in high spirits… so that we hope to resist Howe and his Mirimidons” (J. Adams, 15 July 1776).

            There were other issues effecting the colonies besides the Revolutionary War, though, and that was the smallpox epidemic of the 18^th century. Few diseases were as fatal or universal, and “reportedly disfigured, crippled, or killed every tenth person" during this time period (Pryor, “Smallpox in the 18th Century”). The Adams family, specifically Abigail and the kids, were especially susceptible to smallpox and added much stress to the situation. Luckily, a procedure called “inoculation” existed which came in around 1720, which was a popular and lifesaving early form of vaccination designed to prevent smallpox. Abigail had her and her children all inoculated in Boston on July 12, 1776 (A. Adams, July 14 1776), but because Inoculation causes a less severe infection then the original smallpox, the people who get inoculated still experience symptoms but overall induce an immunity to it. Abigail describes her and the children’s well-being regarding the smallpox throughout many of the letters, saying “I have really had so many cares upon my hands and mind, with bad inflammation in my eyes that I have not been able to write. [And] the little folks are very sick then and puke every morning but after that they are comfortable” (A. Adams, July 14 1776). Abigail and the children’s conditions were just one example of the effects the majority of the colonies were facing, as the fatal effects of the small pox had lead almost every person in town to consent to hospitals (A. Adams, July 14 1776).  

The distance between John and Abigail played a key part in showing the frustration of the revolutionary war along with the smallpox epidemic, and this especially shows in their letters. After being informed of Abigail and the children’s run with smallpox, John writes to Abigail “It is not possible for me to describe, nor for you to conceive my feelings upon this occasion. Nothing, but the critical state of our affairs should prevent me from flying to Boston, to your assistance… I shall feel like a savage to be here, while my whole family is sick at Boston” (J. Adams, 16 July 1776). Both John and Abigail make sacrifices during this time. John knew that he had to sacrifice coming to his families aid because of his duties in the continental congress, and Abigail makes a sacrifice by understand his absence is for the good of the country, writing to John: “The cruel separation to which I am necessitated cuts of half the enjoyments of life, the other half are comprised in the hope I have that what I do and what I suffer may be serviceable to you, to our little ones and our country” (A. Adams, 21 July 1776).

The sacrifice and ambition of John and Abigail Adams shown in these letters is representative of the rest of the thirteen colonies during the Revolutionary War. The burning desire for independence from Britain pushed the colonies through the struggles and sacrifices of war and sickness, ultimately leading to America’s separation from being under British rule.

           

Works Cited

Adams, Abigail. Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 13-14 July 1776 (Electronic  Edition). Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

Adams, Abigail. Letter from Abigail Adams to john Adams, 21-22 July 1776 (Electronic  Edition). Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

Adams, John. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 15 July 1776 (Electronic Edition).        Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

Adams, John. Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 July 1776 (Electronic Edition).        Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society.

Pryor, Susan. “Smallpox in the 18^th Century.” Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. 1984.            http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/