ABIGAIL ADAMS
Abigail Adams, born in Weymouth in 1744 and died in 1818, was an intelligent and modern woman, whose life formed a large window on society that saw the "birth and maturation of the United States" (Akers, 1). She was an unschooled daughter of a Minister (Akers, 2). While growing up, she was encouraged by her father to read the wide variety of books he had collected, knowing that a good education was useful (Beller, 17). She grew up reading "whatever prose works that came her way" (Akers, 10), but she was particularly passionate about the works of Samuel Richardson. His works "treated the questions most on the minds on of the literate, sensitive young women of the eighteenth century: personal identity, duty to family and society, sexuality, marriage, and the role of educated women" (Akers, 10). Through Richardson's novels, her philosophy about women status and rights and duties developed into what she has become now- a women's rights advocate. In old age, she wrote of Richardson, "To this master of the human heart, was due whatever I possess[ed] of delicacy of sentiment or refinement of taste in my early and juvenile days" (Akers, 10). And perhaps this is true, but in any case, she developed an idea of life and societal roles in h
She was a great mother of four, a loving equal of her husband, an admirable patriot to her country, and strived hard to change the status of women, all in one. While John Adams was writing the Declaration of Independence, she had strongly hoped that women would be included so that they would be have a "separate legal existence that would guarantee the wife a share in the fruits of their mutual labor," recognize the wife as having a voice to express her ideas and opinions, and "grant [the wife] the right to institute a legal action against an abusive husband" (Bober, 72). Through various letters, Abigail Adams made a tremendous impact to America. But Abigail still believed that "If man is Lord, Woman is Lordess" (Bober, 187). Her faithfulness to her husband extended to her patriotism towards her country when she told her friend, "I am obliged to summon all my patriotism to feel willing to part with him again, you will readily believe me when I say that I make no small sacrifice to the public" (Osborne, 54). Sixty-eight years later, John Quincy Adams said, "Do you wonder, that a boy of seven who witnessed this scene should be a patriot?" (Bobers, 59). John even quoted from one of her letters in a speech before Congress (Bober, 50). Abigail was disappointed by her husband's reply, and humorously retorted, "Whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to men, emancipating all nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives" (Bober, 74). However, John had formally acknowledged their partnership with Abigail when he wrote to her: I must entreat you, my dear Partner in all the Joys and Sorrows, Prosperity and Adversity of my Life, to take a part with me in the Struggle. One day, Johnny had come into the house to find his mother and his uncle, Elihu, putting all her precious pewter spoons into a large kettle. He then realized that his mother was melting to spoons down to make bullets (Bober, 59). She believed strongly that if women weren't included in the new Code of Laws, they would rebel in later years.
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