Abigail Adams Research Paper

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Pages: 13

“I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or few, is ever grasping and like the graves cries give, give.” Abigail Adams wrote this in a letter to her husband, John Adams, in November 1775. This quote perfectly embodies what Abigail Adams’ mindset was throughout most of her adult life. Abigail, on more than one occasion, refers to men as tyrants. Abigail was a woman ahead of her time; she was fighting for rights that women would not get until decades or centuries after her death. Abigail Adams was made to be a leader; she made herself this way by going against societal norms and breaking down barriers for the women in generations to follow. Born on November 11, 1744, in Massachusetts, …show more content…
With Lovell’s position in Congress, he could get information to Abigail about what plans Congress had in store for her husband, making him a very valuable friend to Abigail. It is said that Abigail and Lovell shared a rather flirtatious relationship with each other. “ Mrs. Adams, the respectable, courageous, clever, articulate wife of the eminent Founding Father, and James Lovell, the distinguished, dedicated patriot, Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, attentive husband and parent, exchanged letters which, in addition to describing war-time politics, contain an unmistakable sexual element.” By today's standards, the sexual tension seems to be mild and desireless; however, by the standards of the eighteenth century, the exchanges between the two appear to have a strong force of tension. Another woman who worked alongside Abigail Adams to redefine a woman's role in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was Mercy Otis Warren. The two exchanged many letters throughout their adult lives, talking about their hopes for gender equality in the new …show more content…
I requested that our legislators would consider our case, and as all Men of Delicacy and Sentiment are averse to exercising the power they possess, yet as there is a natural propensity in Humane nature to domination, I thought the most Generous plan was to put it out of the power of the Arbitrary and tyrannick to injure us with impunity by establishing some Laws in our favour upon just and Liberal principals.” Abigail would often vent to Mercy Otis Warren about her husband when the two would disagree on topics. Warren became the biggest listening ear for Abigail after she sent her letter titled “Remember the Ladies” to John on March 31st, 1776, while she was waiting for his reply that he would not send until April 14th. Abigail Adams used her place as an elite woman in society to work towards the greater good for America, but more specifically for women, and through her letters, we can see almost exactly what she was thinking and feeling. Abigail sent letters to many different people, such as her husband, her eldest son, and other activists like Mercy Otis