On January 12, 1780, Abigail Adams, former First Lady, wrote to her son, John Quincy Adams, while he was abroad with his father and brother. Adams addressed to her son and future President to maintain his spirit to learn and grow. She expressed his purpose through her motherly tone, various religious and historical allusions, use of logos, rhetorical question with simple syntax and use of metaphors. Abigail Adams’ first priority were her children, because as a woman during this time period, domestic living was important to a functioning and normal family. Her motherly instinct shined throughout as Adams opens up the letter to John Quincy Adams with “My dear son,” calling him “my son” on various occasions, naming herself as a “tender parent” and ending it with “your ever affectionate mother.” This showed her loving affection towards him as she took pride in her son by calling him hers. “Abigail Adams wrote that “if I [Adams] had thought your [John Quincy Adams] reluctance arose from …show more content…
Allusions are references, either directly or indirectly, about people, ideas and events. Abigail Adams alluded to the American Revolution as she wrote that Adams should “owe your [his] existence among a people who have made a glorious defence of their invaded liberties.” As she wrote this, she also instilled her nationalistic view to “do honor to your country.” Adams wanted and knew that her son, John Quincy Adams, would make America proud. She alluded to her religion by referencing that all who fought were “aided by a generous and powerful ally, with the blessing of Heaven.” Adams tied the religious and historical allusions together as “War, tyranny and desolation are the scourges of the Almighty.” She hinted to America before and during the war and their power to overcome the reign of England. She may have referred to the American Revolution but foreshadowed her son’s future
The letter Adams wrote to her son, demonstrated the love and care that mothers can have for there children. Abigail Adams writes suitably yet in her own views to make her points and reasons clear. She makes note of the support system John Quincy has with his loving parents that will also be there for him whenever he needs. Throughout the letter, Abigail Adams is capable of obtaining a balance between logical and emotional appeal so she can guide her son in the best direction suited
Abigail Adams an American Woman was written by Charles W. Akers. His biographical book is centered on Abigail Adams the wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president. She was the All-American woman, from the time of the colonies to its independence. Abigail Adams was America's first women's rights leader. She was a pioneer in the path to women in education, independence, and women's rights.
...llowed for a new life lesson. It is obvious that the teachings Abigail instilled in her children were great because her son followed in his father’s footsteps and because a political leader and second President of the United States. Her daughter married a man that both she and John approved of and they made a good life for themselves.
Abigail Adams was the wife of the 1st Vice President John Adams and the mother of the 6th President John Quincy Adams. She lived from 1744 to 1818 and for most of her life lived in Braintree, Massachusetts. The author of this biography wanted to bring Abigail Adams out from under the shadow of her husband John Adams. I think that Charles W. Akers was in fact successful in defending his thesis.
John Quincy Adams once said that, “It is among the evils of slavery that it taints the very sources of moral principle. It establishes false estimates of virtue and vice: for what can be more false and heartless than this doctrine which makes the first and holiest right of humanity to depend upon the color of the skin?” John Quincy Adams be of the opinion that slaves were equal to the “white man” and should not be treated like animals but as equals. Agreeing with John Quincy Adams, he discusses inequality, a point that needs to be emphasized, since the Declaration of Independence “that all men are created equal” and that it is not followed completely by all fellow “Americans”. According to him, “we have
Both Lemuel Haynes and Abigail Adams represented the voices of those who were not included in the laws of the Constitution. Though their writings were on different aspect of cultural roles, the common point that is shared by the two arguments was equality in life. In Lemuel’s text, the idea of slave-keeping was something that hurts those individuals to a life where they are kept for hard labor and not have the freedom to enjoy the privileges that God gave to each person (Haynes, pg 2). The idea of Abigail’s letter was to persuade President John Adams to change the rule of equality to a more meaningful definition where everyone has the same opportunities and be able to live a life where fears are limited. For example, when she visit a the illness,
Adams uses a plethora of rhetorical contrivances in order to encourage her son to act responsibly in his endeavors overseas. Among many other devices, she frequently uses allusions in the text in an attempt to get her message across to her child. The author speaks of people who Quincy “owes” his existence to, a people who “aided by a glorious defense of their invaded liberties, and who aided by their generous and powerful ally, with the blessing of heaven, will transmit this inheritance to ages yet unborn.’’ (Adams, 46-49). She includes this quote in order to remind her son of their families of their strong corroboration with the recent Revolutionary War, and how his life wouldn`t be the same if it hadn`t been for passionate democratic partisans,
Abigail Adams, a woman very well known today originally met her husband John Adams when she was 15 years old and later on became the first lady during his presidency. When she turned 11 she met with a college professor and started her education. Abigail was born on November 22, 1744 and died on October 28, 1818 (The World of Abigail Adams). Throughout her life she had many long lasting accomplishments and was a leader in her household and for women. She helped make the Americas what they are today and helped give rights to woman. Abigail Adams was an important figure because of her relation to John Adams, her religious views, her accomplishments, and how they had long lasting effects in the world and on the United States today.
The extremely long sentences, “Yet it is your lot, my son...transmit this inheritance to ages yet unborn” serves to emphasize her everlasting hope in her son to work diligently since it is the “fruit of experience and vital for the prosperity of their country (43-49). Adams would not be wasting her efforts to write to him this long of a message if she was not sure he was capable of emerging as a powerful leader. In addition, similar sentence structure is apparent when she groups “war, tyranny, and desolation”: a mixture that she is relieved of not experiencing like his relatives had to face in order to achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Overtly implied, she believes Adams is adept enough to bring forth justice, virtue, and order to the
Mrs. Abigail Adams was a woman who lived in the 1700’s who fought for women’s rights. She was born on “...November 11, 1744, in Weymouth Massachusetts...” (Kaminski 13). According to Kaminski, Abigail Adams was kept from school due to her parent’s being ill frequently, but she was provided with education by her family members. Abigail Adams had madly fallen in love with John Adams over the course of many years. Finally, after many years of knowing each other, on October 25, 1764 John and Abigail were married by Abigail Adams’ father (Kaminski 21). Abigail Adams and John had four children and were a very happy couple (Kaminski 21). Abigail Adams was an exceptional woman of her time: “...[Abigail Adams] cared for the sick in the family (including servants), contributed to the needy, educated the children herself and later placed them with other for their continuing education, read widely, maintained an extensive correspondence, and performed her proper role socially” (Kaminski 9). Many people could tell that Abigail Adams was
She loved writing letters to family and friends on just about every topic imaginable. When John went to France as a plenipotentiary, Abigail frequently wrote to him and updated him on the news back in Braintree, where she lived at the time. Even though Abigail felt alone and depressed while John was away for sometimes years at a time for politics, writing helped her communicate her feelings and share opinions with other people. Her letters have become crucial to understanding the Revolutionary era of the United States and are fantastic and detailed firsthand accounts of the
In a letter to her husband, Abigail Adams asked him to remember the ladies, and "to be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors". She goes on to warn John Adams not to put unrestricted power into the hands of men (Doc B). Abigail wrote this letter in light of the new position women are representing. The women finally decided to take action and rebel against how their ancestors have lived in the past.
Wife of John Adams, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, Abigail Adams was known to advocate education in public schools for girls even though she never received formal education; however, she was taught how to read and write at home and acquired the opportunity to access the library of her parents where she broadened her knowledge of philosophy, theology, government and law. The informal education provided her with a basis of political ideas influenced by her grandfather, John Quincy. Both his teachings and his interest in government moved Abigail towards the thoughts and ideals that she carried through her involvement in the early colonial government. Abigail Adams desired both boys and girls to have access to education. In addition
Though quiet, sickly, and shy, Abigail Adams, the wife of second president John Adams, helped plant the seeds that eventually led to the concept of women¹s rights and women¹s equality with men. For a country which had been founded on the idea of independence for all, these concepts were still considered radical and even ridiculous.
Adams, John. Letter to Abigail Adams. 14 Apr. 1776. The Liz Library: Women's law and research