Essay #1

Natalie Lawrence

Lee

English 244

16 February 2017

Letters of the Journey of Political Development

             In a letter Philadelphia July 3.1776 John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams in The Norton Anthology American Literature “Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men” (633). The main theme running through these letters exchanged between John Adams and Abigail Adams is the political state of the country and how it developed. John Adams and Abigail Adams were married on October 25, 1764, they had four Children and eventually retired in Braintree, which is now Quincy Massachusetts. Abigail Adams was the daughter of a wealthy Congregational minister; she had no conventional schooling but she did use her resources to learn. John Adams was the son of a farmer. John Adams graduated from Harvard College in 1755 and he eventually studied law. John Adams was elected as the delegate from Massachusetts to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. John and Abigail Adams exchanged letters with each other while they were apart for nine years. Their letters consisted of topics from their everyday lives, like educating their children, the running of the household, inquiring about each other’s health, and keeping abreast of family and friends, to topics about the smallpox epidemic, war time strategy and the political state developing in the country.

As the country was working towards its independence from Britain, the process of political change was slow and tedious with new roles and responsibilities emerging. In a letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, Plimouth June 17 a remarkable Day, Abigail Adams exclaimed ”I believe I did not understand you when in a former Letter you say, “I want to resign my office for a thousand reasons.” If you meant that of judge I know not what to say. I know it will be a difficult and arduous station but divesting my self of private intrest which would lead me to be against your holding that office, I know of no person who is so well calculated to discharge the Trust, or who I think would act a more consciencious part”(A.Adams). Abigail Adams was encouraging John Adams in an unbiased way saying that he was the right man for the job. She explained that it would be hard getting the new government established but the outcome would be worth all the effort. In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1776, John Adams informs Abigail Adams that “The Congress have been pleased to give me more Business than I am qualified for, and more than I fear, I can go through, with safety to my Health. They have established a Board of War and Ordinance and made me President of it, an Honour to which I never aspired, a Trust to which I feel my self vastly unequal”(J.Adams) John Adams is given a bigger leadership role in the Continental Congress that is working to establish a Declaration of Independence for the country. He is willing to do the work to achieve the outcome of government that they are working on, even though he is not sure he is qualified to do the job.

As the country was trying to gain its independence from Britain and create their own government, wars were breaking out with both victories and losses. In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1776, John Adams states “But these Reverses of Fortune dont discourage me. It was natural to expect them, and We ought to be prepared in our Minds for greater Changes, and more Melancholly Scenes still. It is an animating Cause, and brave Spirits are not subdued with Difficulties” ( J.Adams). John Adams knew that sometimes wars and political ambitions don’t go the way you want them to and the journey to independence and political change is a long road. However, all the difficulties would not keep America from achieving the goal of independence, as long as the Continental Congress kept working towards it.      

Finally, what the Continental Congress had been working on for so long had come together: the passing of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter Philadelphia July 3. 1776 John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams “A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony “that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do. You will see in a few days a Declaration setting forth the Causes, which have impell’d Us to this might Revolution, and the Reasons which justify it, in the Sight of God and Man. A Plan of Confederation will be taken up in a few days” (Baym and Levine 633). In an unanimous decision, the colonies all agreed to be free and independent of Britain’s control. John Adams explained the new opportunities to govern, all the rights that the Declaration provided and how they were moving forward with plans of confederation.

Now that the Declaration of Independence was approved, the political change was in full effect. New governments were being instituted and put into use with the knowledge that America would need to learn how to govern itself. In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, Philadelphia July7,1776 John Adams observes “Every Colony, upon the Continent will soon be in the same Situation. They are erecting Governments, as fast as children build Cobb Houses. But I conjecture they will hardly throw them down again, so soon” (J.Adams). In a letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, Philadelphia July 3.1776, John Adams wrote “Britain has been fill’d with Folly, and America with Wisdom, at least this is my judgement. - -Time must determine. It is the Will of Heaven, that the two Countries should be sundered forever. It may be the Will of Heaven that America shall suffer Calamities still more wasting and Distresses yet more dreadfull. If this is to be to Case, it will have this good Effect, at least: it will inspire us with many Virtues, which, we have not, and correct many Errors, Follies, and Vices, which threaten to disturb, dishonor, and destroy Us” (Baym and Levine 633). John Adams believed it was good that the two countries would be independent of each other. America could have complications emerge but these obstacles would bring the country the challenge of learning new techniques so that America could grow as a country and a separate government.

John and Abigail Adams’ letters show us that leading up to the creation of the Declaration of Independence, Abigail Adams encouraged John Adams that the political outcome he was working towards would be worth it for the nation. Once the Declaration of Independence was passed, the colonies implemented the new government. John Adams knew that the work was just beginning and that America would need to learn how to govern itself even though problems would arise. Solving these problems would bring America new ideas, integrity and growth. With the passing of the Declaration of Independence, the political state of the country was just getting started. Amongst wars, even being separated sometimes by a whole ocean, and working to bring political change and independence to a nation, John and Abigail Adams communicated with letters. The letters sent between them kept them informed about each other’s lives. Throughout the letters, the major theme they discussed was the development of political change in a new country that was trying to form its own independence. These letters give us an insight into everyday life and the sacrifices of those who were creating the country we live in today.

Works Cited

Baym, Nina, and Robert S. Levine. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.

"Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 17 June 1776." Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 17 June 1776. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

"Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 16 June 1776." Letter from John Adams to Abigail

            Adams, 16 June 1776. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.           

"Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 June 1776." Letter from John Adams to Abigail

            Adams, 26 June 1776. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

"Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 7 July 1776." Letter from John Adams to Abigail

            Adams, 7 July 1776. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.