7 U S History Letters from Abigail and John Adams Final copy
.docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Lamar University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
1301
Subject
English
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
12
Uploaded by MegaOstrich4051
An Introduction to the correspondence between John and Abigail Adams
The roughly 1200 letters of correspondence between John and Abigail Adams traces one of the most fascinating, romantic, and inspirational partnerships in American history. He was her “Lysander” (a famous Greek military hero) and she was his “Miss Adorable.” More importantly, they were both each other’s “Dearest Friend.” John and Abigail were incredibly close and their correspondence proves it. The letters, written over 50 years of marriage, reveal a marriage that was full of affection, intimacy, mutual respect, humor, and love. Additionally, these exchanges provide readers with a unique window into the founding of the United States and into the lives of two of its founders. Not only was Abigail John Adams’ wife and true love, she was his intellectual equal and they shared a common outlook on the world. Their letters record
conversations about the American independence and the Revolutionary War, the rights of women and the immorality of slavery. She was as his primary political advisor and managed their household when he was often away from home. Following the end of his political career, John and Abigail retired together at their home in Massachusetts. No more letters were written.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
cruel and oppressive ruler
encourage or start
disagreement
without regard for others
hate, despise
Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams
March 31, 1776
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 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.
That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to
admit of not 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 imitation of the Supreem Being make use of that power only for our happiness. Note: The spelling and language has not been changed.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
unstable/ rebellious
warning required
women ruling as tyrants; a petticoat is an underskirt forms of government where many groups of people are treated unfairly
Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams
April 14, 1776
As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that
our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government everywhere. That Children and Apprentices were disobedient—that schools and Colledges were grown turbulent
—that Indians slighted their Guardians and Negroes grew insolent
to their Masters.
But your Letter was the first Intimation
that another Tribe more numerous and
powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented. –This is rather too coarse a
Compliment but you are so saucy
, I wont blot it out.
Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Altho they
are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our
Power in its full Latitude
. We are obliged
to go fair, and softly, and in Practice you know We are the subjects
. We have only the Name of Masters, and rather than
give up this, which would completely subject Us to the Despotism of the Peticoat
, I
hope General Washington, and all our brave Heroes would fight. I am sure every
good Politician would plot, as long he would against Despotism, Empire,
Monarchy, Aristocracy, Oligarchy, or Ochlocracy.
– Note: The spelling and language has not been changed.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Text-Dependent Questions
Name of Text: Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776; Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, April 14, 1776
Question Composers: Temoca Dixon and Marcia Motter
Nevade State Standards: H2.[6-8].13
CCSS: RHST.6-8.1, RHST.6-8.2, RHST.6-8.6, RHST.6-8.10; WHST.6-8.2, WHST.6-8.9; SL.7.1, SL.7.2; L.7.1
Questions in Finalized Order
Teacher Notes and Possible Answers
Reread both letters. As you are reading, underline, circle, or highlight the words that are spelled incorrectly. Talk with a partner and consider why these words might have been spelled differently in these two letters. Letter 1: perticuliar , Laidies, Rebelion
, Supreem
Letter 2: Colledges, powerfull, wont, Altho, Peticoat
Teacher’s Note
: Noah Webster published the first American English Dictionary in 1828. The dictionary formalized the spelling of words, modified
British spellings (ie: colour to color/ centre to center/ wagon to wagon) and added American words like “skunk” and “squash.” Webster’s work formalized the spelling of words in American English. Who wrote the first letter and to whom was it written? Who wrote the second letter and to whom was it written?
About how much time has pass between the writing of the two
letters?
Letter 1, Line 1 – Abigail Adams to John Adams
Letter 2, Line 1- John Adams to Abigail Adam
Letter 1, Line 2 compared to Letter 2, Line 2= about 2 weeks Students consider the sources and the time period in which these two letters were written. They will notice that it is correspondence between a husband and wife and that the time between the letters is about two weeks. They also might notice the year, 1776, and that it is close to the date of the declaration of American Independence. Abigail Adams is expressing her hope that the 2
nd
Continental Congress will declare American independence from Great Britain. What is she hoping for in this declaration? What evidence from the text describes her hopes for “an independency”? What evidence from the text describes her concerns if her hopes are not addressed? Line 5-7: I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors.
Line 7-8: unlimited power would not be put into the hands of Husbands, all men would be tyrants if they could
Line 9: if women are not paid attention too, they will “foment a
Rebelion” and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in Angela Orr, 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
Questions in Finalized Order
Teacher Notes and Possible Answers
which we have no voice, or Representation.” The connection she makes to American independence and women’s’ rights is the primary claim within her letter. It sets the tone for the rest of her letter and for the response by her husband, John Adams in the second letter. Students will recognize that Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women’s rights.
In line 8, Abigail Adams claims that “all Men would be tyrants if they could” and that it is a truth “so thoroughly established” that it is indisputable (lines 13-14). In the second paragraph (lines 13-20), what solutions does she offer for solving this “thoroughly established problem? Line 14-15: give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend.
Line 18-20: Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreem Being make use of that power only for our happiness. She pleads that Master become a friend and that if men would
only imitate God, they would use their power only to make women happy.
In Abigail’s letter on line 18, what words could be substituted for “your Sex?”
your manliness, your gender, your masculinity
On line 16, Abigail Adams writes that “it” should be “put out of
power.” What is it
, and how does she refer to it throughout her
letter? It refers to: Line 7: men’s unlimited power, Line 8: men’s tyrannical behavior She refers to it in several instances:
Line 13: men are Naturally Tyrannical, Line 15: Masters, Line 16: vicious and Lawless, Line 18: they consider women vassals
This question generates several examples of men’s tyrannical behavior. From this, students will be able to recognize the strong and negative opinion Abigail has of the way husbands treat their wives, men treat the ladies. The word providence
(line 19) describes the idea of being placed under the care and guidance of God. What words or Ideas describing providence
: Line 15 “endearing one of Friend,” Line 18-19 “regard us as Beings placed by providence
Angela Orr, 2012
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help