Essay #1

Remember the Ladies: An Analysis of John and Abigail Adam’s Letters

            On October 25^th, 1764 John and Abigail Adams wed in Massachusetts. Throughout their marriage, distance became a common variable, although it must have made things more difficult; the separation seems to play a huge role in the success of their relationship. In 1774, John was elected to lead the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Abigail agreed he should go, which left her home alone to raise and educate their five children. In order to keep in touch, they exchanged over one thousand letters discussing everything from government and politics to home life and much more personal concepts. Abigail Adams never received formal schooling, probably due to the fact that females were stripped of education and rarely given this right, yet she was very intelligent. Her ideas about the government and politics contribute greatly to the founding of the United States, but her determination to grant women rights is what she is most known for. In her letters, she advocates for women’s rights to own property and also the opportunity for education (First Lady Biography: Abigail Adams). She believed women should also have a voice, for they are not simply a partner to their husband, but an individual who deserves equal rights. As well as women’s rights, Abigail also wrote about her views on slavery. She believed that no body had the right to deprive a human of freedom no matter the color of their skin. John Adams, our second president, and a Founding Father led Congress to their independence from Great Britain (First Lady Biography: Abigail Adams). John attended Harvard College in 1751 and decided to become a lawyer. Although his level of education extended that of Abigail’s, he still asked for and valued her advice. She was his closest friend and together they both formed the base of our country.

            A common theme represented throughout the letters of John and Abigail Adams is the lack of power and representation that women had. Abigail often argues how this new constitution should incorporate equal rights, not discriminated by gender, and provide protection from the unlawful amount of power men had over their wives. For example, on November 27^th, 1775 she writes that, “Man is a dangerous creature” referring to how the unlimited power that men have over women is unfair. A married couple were considered only one person, and all decisions were made by the man. A married woman could not sign legal papers, earn money to keep for herself, own property or even become educated if her husband did not approve.

In addition, in a letter she writes to John on March 31^st 1776, she says, “I long to hear that you have declared an independancy—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 favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation” (Remember the Ladies). Abigail’s tone in this letter is backed with what one would call sass. She claims that all men would be cruel and abuse their power which comes off to me as if she is degrading men and sees no special qualities which would make a man a better ruler than a woman. Abigail also says, “That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity. Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in immitation of the Supreem Being make use of that power only for our happiness” (Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive). She describes men as “Naturally Tyrannical,” and goes on to tell how women are completely dependent on men to show that the unequal distribution of power leaves women beyond vulnerable and violates their very rights.

In addition, she also throws Johns own rhetoric at him with her statement about how women will rebel without representation. The slogan, “No taxation without representation” was widely used throughout the thirteen colonies to say that since they were not represented by the British, any law or act which directly affected the colonists, like the Stamp Act should be considered illegal due to the Bill of Rights. The Bill od Rights forbids taxation on goods without Parliament’s approval and since the colonist were provided with no representation in Parliament the Stamp Act and the Sugar act were in direct violation of the Englishmen’s rights. Isn’t denying a woman of her basic rights just because she is not a man also in violation of her certain unalienable rights? John replies to this her letter with, “As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh,” which only proves how little women were thought of (Remember the Ladies).

The letters between Abigail and John Adams are analyzed to this day because of their great in sight into the world during the Revolution. Their marriage would be referred to today as a “power couple.” I believe that their strong relationship was key in the founding of our country and without these letters we would be at a huge loss of information.

Works Cited:

"Adams Family Papers : An Electronic Archive." Adams Family Papers : An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

"First Lady Biography: Abigail Adams." Abigail Adams Biography :: National First Ladies' Library. National First Lady's Library, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.

"Remember the Ladies" (1776)." Adams, "Remember the Ladies" (1776). N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2017.