John And Abigail Adams’ Letters: A Cultural Reflection

The reader can get a rare insight into one of America’s most progressive and prolific Presidents by reading the correspondence between Abigail Adams. Their letters are full of implications that go far beyond their relationship. These letters are a unique way to look at the social norms that were established in the era. The most notable ones include women’s rights and the political climate. Women’s Rights, which was not a subject that was discussed much between husbands and wives at the time (or today either), played a large part in their dialogue. The topic of women’s rights is a common theme in their writings, especially during the period of drafting and ratification of Declaration of Independence. Abigail wrote John on March 31,1776 a letter about the inclusion of rights for women in the document. The letter states: “Do no give unlimited power to Husbands.” Remember that all men would become tyrants in the event they could. If we don’t take special care of the Laidies then we are going to start a Rebellion and we won’t be bound to any Laws that we can’t influence or represent. This woman speaks so casually about the women’s inevitable rebellion if their rights are not granted and the tyrannical nature men that you can only conclude it was part of the conversation. She then explains the notion that men were “Naturally Tyrannical” in order to make her case for the proper representation of women under the Declaration. John Adams’ response to Abigail is more astonishing than her ease of writing. He writes “We’ve been told our Struggle is loosing the bands everywhere. He writes, “We have been told that our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government everywhere. Your Letter was the First Indication that a Tribe, more powerful and numerous than the others were growing discontent. This is not the best compliment to give, but since you’re so saucy and sarcastic I won’t remove it. The next sentence acknowledges the increasing tensions within the largest group of marginalized people, the Women. It is important to understand this concept when looking at the political climate in the past. This not only demonstrates that women wish to break away from the patriarchal bonds, but it also shows that men who are in power are willing and able to integrate this understanding in their personal as well as political affairs. It is a direct contradiction to the established social norms of the time, which saw marriage as a way of advancing in society, not a partnership built on equality and understanding. This was a result of subjugating women to support roles. It is a good representation of the time, but also gives insight into modern American politics. John has written Abigail many times about how tiresome his work was, especially when he was younger. He often complains about the bureaucracy and posturing that surrounds politics. On October 9, 1774, he wrote, “…Business has been drawn out and spun to an infinite Length”, referring to the issues that are brought before congress. This is due to the partisan politics which seem more important than the issue itself. It is easy to see the parallels between current politics and previous ones in this passage. Today, we are still stuck in our political alignments. The comments he makes about his patronage of the Episcopal church and the Presbyterian Church are also very interesting. He comments, “They are Both Slaves to Domination of Priesthood,” stating that this forced attendance is making the pilgrimage more tiresome to him. This can easily be inferred as a sign that political frustrations are not a recent phenomenon, but a tradition that dates back to American Politics.

Finaly, these documents seem to comment directly and/or indirectly on the long-standing struggles between England and the United States. John writes, “We do not have any other names than those of the Masters. We cannot give this up, because it would be to submit us to the Despotism that the Peticoat would bring. Instead, I pray General Washington will fight for our freedom, along with all of the brave Heroes we have. I am confident that every good Politiker would plot against Despotism and Empire as well as Monarchy. Aristocracy. Oligarchy. This very long quote summarizes their feelings against the crown. John’s unyielding loyalty and determination to overthrow English rule are a driving force in both his personal and political life. In particular, John’s letters show a deep respect for George Washington. This sentiment was very popular at the time. Abigail also shares her husband’s desire for independence, but she often gives different reasons as to why. This is important for the development of their relationship and also serves as an opportunity to reflect on the bipartisan support that the United States has shown in its fight for independence.

These letters, written by two influential people, are not just a series of information about their lives but also give a reader hints on the culture at the time. This is evident in the way the letters between these two highly influential individuals are written. They not only provide information about their personal lives, but also give the reader an insight into the culture of that time.