Most Famous And Influential Letters By Abigail Adams

The wife of the second president of the United States and mother of John Quincy Adams (JQA), Abigail Adams, in a letter to her son written On January 19, 1780, advises him to grow during his voyage to France. Mrs. Adams’ purpose is to persuade JQA to follow her advice in order to become an exemplary individual. She adopts a motherly tone with the goal of helping him realize his potential while also utilizing endearing diction, lifting repetition, and heartwarming emotional appeals. Abigail Adams begins her essay by utilizing words that are generally associated with a motherly or affectionate figure. The use of this endearing diction helps Mrs. Adams construct a feeling of sincerity.

a. Bibliographic entry of Foner text. In the letter which wrote by Abigail Adams between 31 March to 5 April in 1776. This letter is write to her husband, John Adams who served as the second President of the United States (1797–1801), urged him and other members of the Continental Congress not to forget the right of women in the country when the nation independence from Britain. Abigail Adams wrote “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 favorable to them than your ancestors” that indicate she reminds her husband keeps the position of the woman in the new country.

If you ask someone who their biggest supporter is, they usually answer with “my mother.” Regularly, mothers tend to promote a critical but sincere and encouraging persona when it comes to their child by giving them the support and advice they need to grow as an individual. Similarly, in a letter to her son, Abigail Adams advises him to use his opportunities to his advantage to face his “difficulties” and “calamities” with strength and “great virtues” so that he may “bring honor to his country” and “add justice, fortitude, and every manly virtue” to his character to form one similar to “[a] hero’s and the statesman.” By employing pathos, historical allusions and a sincere tone, Adams reveals her purpose is to convince her son that difficulties in life are meant to be embraced in order to establish a strong and tested foundation of will along with adding to his character. She claims that in doing so, one will receive “wisdom and penetration[,] the fruit of [these] experience[s].”

First lady, Abigail Adams, in her letter to her son, John Quincy Adams on January 19, 1780 (three years before the end of The American Revolution) informs her son following her advice, will lead him somewhere great. Mrs. Adams purpose is to persuade her son to listen to her advice in order to prosper. She adopts a maternal and supportive tone, appropriate comparison and contrast, and inspiring repetition. Adams initiates her letter to her son by establishing her nurturing nature over him. She creates a kind-hearted tone in order to appeal to the feelings of her son through the use of thoughtful syntax by admitting that she hopes he “had no occasion either from Enemies or the Dangers of the Sea to repent …second voyage to France.”

Wife of U.S diplomat and mother of future president, Abigail Adams in her letter to her son John Quincy Adams advises him during his journey with his father about the advantages of learning from his experiences. Adams purpose is to encourage her son to set out and learn in order to become a better person. She adopts a nurturing tone to guide her son and give him advice that would be beneficial to him. Adams successfully gets her advice across to her son with the use of remorseful diction, inspiring exemplification, and proud pathos.

oving mother, and wife of former President John Adams, Abigail Adams writes a letter to her son during his trip to France. The purpose she conveyed to her son consists of urging him to take advantage of the trip so he can deepen his learning of the language and culture. She utilizes a troubled tone to encourage the proper and beneficial actions of her son, John Quincy Adams. Adams begins her letter to John Quincy by displaying her concerns with his activities and schemes, for she wishes he will use the voyage to his learning advantage. Adams applies an ad hominem by arguing to her son that if “[he] were capable of judging what was most for [his] own benefit, [she] should not have urged [him] to accompany...the voyage” (line 5-7), which places a direct argument on John and his effective decision making.

Abigail never advocated for women to vote or hold public office, but another thing she urged was a separate legal existence for married women that made it easier for a wife to take action against an abusive husband (49). Abigail had a specific view for women in society. She believed that women should be educated members of society, and be able

These letters—later published into a book, which was the first by a first lady —showed that she was an advocate of women’s rights and believed in equality. In fact, her almost famous saying went “remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors.” Her writings were the earliest known concerning gender equality. Although what she seemed to be most passionate about was changing the educational discrimination against women, she was also not shy in speaking against slavery and the discrimination taking place at the time. It was even noted that Adams taught an African American boy read, despite the opinions others had her actions.

Abigail asks John to remember the rights of women as they come up with the new code of laws or better known as the Declaration of Independence. She asks that he not allow married men to have too much power and warns him that if the ladies are not given what they deserve that they will act out in a rebellion and rise above men similar to the rebellion of the colonists. She writes that women do not deserve to be treated as property or as a servant to a master but that they should be considered ones friend. One of the most sensitive lines she writes is “Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex”. She points out the cruel nature of men and that women are far more deserving.

Abigail Adams played a very important role in the American Revolution; even if she didn’t fight in the war. Abigail fought for women’s rights and slavery instead. Her perseverance pulled her through rough times, as well as her stubbornness. Abigail Adams was an independent woman and a fantastic role model. Abigail Adams was born on November 11th, 1744, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and grew up with no formal education.

Abigail wrote this letter to her John in January of 1780, so the language used was very different from today's society, and it used many heightened points of diction and more formal language.

She begins her letter by stating that John is working too frequently and not spending enough time with her and her family. She proceeds to denounce his work in office by stating that despite their government’s progress towards equality of all men, the women still deserve to have equal opportunities. Moreover, she also infers that a government is only as powerful as it’s people, thus, if not provided wit equal opportunities, the women will revolt against the government. Before reading this, I was unaware that women, especially women of higher class/power, were discussing equal rights and opportunities of women. I assumed that they would have primarily discussed this with the other women in their society rather than the men.

Numerous women expressed their disapproval towards how they were denied their rights based on their gender, thus causing women to take a stand for their suffrage and rights. In a letter to her husband, Abigail Adams told him to “be more generous and favourable to [women] than [his]

Abigail Adams was extremely influential to the nation’s beginnings due to her drive to push certain decisions and debates through the status of her husband. She found the issues of women’s rights and slavery while also finding local politics to be important. As the wife of a president, Abigail Adams was able to use her status in a way to push and bring to life her political agenda. Abigail Adams was able to provide her husband with information and insights of the political situation in Boston during his decade long trip through numerous letters that had been exchanged for so long. Her letters regarding the political situation “included commentary on the American struggle for independence and the political structure of the new republic.”

Education was a big factor that Abigail urged women to have more of a passion for. An educated woman is a strong woman. She promotes that women are just as capable as men, and intellectual thinkers who want their voices to be heard. Since women had little rights for themselves, some women were against slavery, especially Abigail Adam’s, they saw how little to no rights slaves were given and saw a comparison of the situations and wanted to be that voice for them and those that joined her. John Adams had complete trust in her to be able to handle all that was going on in the household while he was gone.