Between the First letters written in 1762, where John Adams penned his flirtatious note ‘Miss Adorable’ to 17 year old Abigail Smith and the 1801 letter by Abigail Adams to wish her husband a safe journey when he headed to Quincy after serving tenure as the 2nd President of United States. Many letters spanned between 40 years of significant correspondence reveal one of the most inspiring and intriguing partnerships of American history. As one of the leaders of the American Revolution and Newly formed republic, John Adams faced critical moments of United States creation from drafting of declaration of Independence to the negotiation of peace with British. They were separated quite often during this founding era of United States of America. They shared their life in this era through letters addressed to ‘My Dearest Friend’.
Their letters were full of articulate commentary and observations on current events, some of them were remarkably intimate. Abigail’s letters were witty, pungent and vivid and spelled juts like she used to speak detailing about her life during the revolution. These letters tell story of women staying at home and struggling with inflation and wartime storage, running the farm with minimum help and teaching her children during interruption of formal education. These letters have vivid description of life in period of American Revolution, excerpts of her life abroad when John Adams was serving as ambassador in Europe and remarks about her life as the First Lady. Both of them had firm ideas about government, politics, women’s rights, slavery and these opinions were present in these letters.
As the First Lady, Abigail Adams had made a large impression on the people of United States of America. She used to be advocate for female expressing the original feminist theory and insights on political thought. These letters tell story of women staying at home and struggling with inflation and wartime storage, running the farm with minimum help and teaching her children during interruption of formal education. Abigail Adams used to have firm ideas about government, politics, women’s rights, slavery and these opinions were present in these letters. Even when she wrote about daily events, her writing style was quite entertaining.
Thoughtful and learned, John Adams used to be remarkable political philosopher and a leading politician. Throughout John Adams life he continued to seek opinions and advice from his wife on political matters. In 1797, when he became the President of United States of America, he was eager to have Abigail beside him. From his first letter to his wife where he used the salutation of ‘Miss Adorable’ to the final signature or epilogue in letter to John Quincy about Abigail’s death ‘Your aged and Afflicted Father’ – correspondence of Adams gave Americans a personal view in the founding era of United States of America (Norton).
Though their letters to each other, it s clear that John Adams used to trust his wife for taking care of his business and his admiration of her self-sufficiency is clearly visible. Though married women of the founding era had limited property rights, Abigail Adams referred to their affairs and property as her own instead of using ‘ours’. These letters can tell that both of them used to be close friends and Abigail quite often advised her husband on political matters. Throughout John Adams life he continued to seek opinions and advice from his wife on political matters. In 1797, when he became the President of United States of America, he was eager to have Abigail beside him (National Women’s History Museum).
Works Cited
National Women’s History Museum. Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818). https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/abigail-smith-adams/. nwhm.org. Web. 2014
Norton, M.B. Dear Abby. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/books/review/Norton-t.html?_r=0. nytimes.com. 2007. Web. 2014
