Abstract This paper explores a little bit of the history of John and Abigail Adams, how John Adams rose to power as President of the United States through his political career, and how Abigail Adams stayed home and sent her support and love through a series of love letters to her husband.
From the Paper "The world during the Revolutionary War was a very scary and emotional time for the colonists, and especially for those who were involved with the politics of freeing America from England's rule. John and Abigail Adams was one couple that was very involved with the politics of the colonies. Through their love and mutual support for each other, John and Abigail Adams were able to cope with the Revolutionary War and welcome the birth of a new nation."
This paper analyzes the life of Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States as presented by Charles W. Akers in his book ?Abigail Adams: An American Woman?.
Abstract This paper explains that Abigail Adams stood as a witness to the crucial political events that resulted in the formulation of the nation's early political and legal history; however, her status as a woman during time and her intellectual and personal capacity is interesting in its own right, outside of her marital connections. The author points out that, unlike the relatively singular lives of Washington or Jefferson, the Adams emerged as a political dynasty as well as a political influence in the young nation's development. The paper states that Abigail Adams? letters to her husband lay testimony to the fact that rather than being complaint, during the immediate antebellum period, the ideological struggles over slavery and women's rights were woven into the historical fabric of the founding nation.
From the Paper "Adams? failure to exhort her husband and to use her political influence to achieve her objectives highlights the contradictions of this early period of American history. It has been commented that the more simply articulated ideals of the Declaration of Independence eventually were diluted by the political necessities of constructing a Constitution amenable to all of the states, and to the maintenance of the aristocratic, land-owning class that the Founding Father came from. The new nation was to be governed by the Thomas Jefferson's of the world, not the Thomas Paines, and to maintain a delicate equilibrium between South and North; the existence of slavery was tolerated via the ?three-fourths compromise.? Similarly, women's rights were also compromised and bracketed for later reference, to be resolved by future generations. Certain contradictions of American free governance were put aside for later generations to wrangle with, rather than to become a part of the difficult struggles of making America into a new nation."
Abstract This paper presents a positive review of Akers' biography of former First lady of the sixth president of the United States, Abigail Adams. The paper points out that this biography had the advantage of being written after various family manuscripts were opened to public scrutiny so that Akers was able to make use of the material as well as approximately 2000 letters written by Abigail Adams and shape a picture of her that sets her apart from many of the women of her time.
From the Paper "Akers discusses her education, especially her love for poetry because of her teacher, Richard Cranch. She learned much from her reading of different British authors, especially from the novels of Samuel Richardson and his celebration of female innocence. This reflected a reality in the colonies that made that area different from Europe, for a "scarcity of females and the dire shortage of labor in the colonies had temporarily raised the importance of women in America as compared with Europe" (11). Women were still not economically independent and still lived in a male-dominated society, but the egalitarian nature of the New World gave them a stronger position than their sisters in Europe."
Abstract This paper reviews the life of Abigail Adams and discusses the impact she had on redefining the role of women in society. The paper discusses the letters Abigail wrote to her husband, which provide valuable insight into her mindset, as well as her position on key issues of her day. The paper also discusses how these positions influenced the course of American history.
Outline:
Introduction
Adams' View of the Role of Women in Her Time
Republican Motherhood in the Mind of Adams
Adams' View of Women as Daughter, Wife, and Mother
Abigail Adams Contributions in Retrospect
From the Paper "The belief and practice of Adams in Republican Motherhood speaks volumes about her views of the role of women in her time of revolution and struggle; moreover, her views of women as daughter, wife and mother are made clearer when reviewing her writings on these matters. Adams' disdain with the holding of political and social power almost exclusively by men can be seen in yet another quote from her letters to her husband: "I am more and more convinced that Man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping, and like the grave cries give, give" (Akers, 1999). Here, Adams clearly shows that she wishes for women to have a larger role in matters of state. Expanding on this, Adams also shows that she feels that women, in the role of daughter, has the responsibility of becoming educated and learning as much as she can about what would today be called "the man's world" so that she can contribute to it in the future, regardless of what her role is as wife, mother, or even both. "
Abstract This paper discusses the far-reaching meaning of the biblical story of Abigail. The story is also used as a base to look at the different characters of men and women.
From the Paper "Abigail was an intelligent, determined, levelheaded woman. She possessed the foresight to realize that David's wrath would destroy everything she had, including her own life, and she ignored the thought of any punishment she may have received from her husband to right his wrong and to keep peace in the countryside. She did not wait for David's next action, nor did run to her husband or his men for protection. She acted on her own instincts and she wasted no time in doing what she knew had to be done."
Abstract This paper discusses the well-researched and well-documented biography, "Abigail Adams: An American Woman" written by Charles W. Akers, presenting a multifaceted portrait of Abigail Adams. The paper contends that the book is scholarly, yet written with the lay audience in mind; the text is presented chronologically and with compelling narrative that exposes Adams's persona and opinions. Attesting to its relevance to academia and historiography, the paper claims that Akers's biography is almost entirely based on primary source material, namely, the two thousand letters Adams had written during the course of her life and the Adams family manuscripts.
From the Paper "Abigail Adams is therefore an excellent historical reference work that can provide a foundation for studying life in revolutionary America in general. Abigail Adams represents a specific stratum of American life: the upper-class, white, Protestant, New England, and female perspective. In the early chapters of the biography, Akers offers a thorough family background of Abigail so that the reader can place her in context of not only her society and times but also of her unique upbringing. Her father William Smith was a church minister in rural Massachusetts and in spite of his piety refused the evangelical trends sweeping across the colonies known as the Great Awakening. William Smith's moderate views on religion undoubtedly influenced his daughter Abigail, who throughout her life would exhibit moderation in her opinions on most social and political issues. Although she was a staunch revolutionary, highly critical of the old European powers and strongly in favor of American independence, Abigail Adams was no radical. For instance, her brand of feminism included deference to traditional roles of women as wives and mothers."
Abstract This paper, by comparing the life of privilege and luxury of Abigail Adams with the life of typical 18th century women in America, shows how Adams used that privilege to better the lives of women across America.
From the Paper "Abigail Adams, being a First Lady, and outspoken woman, may not be a source for understanding the "average" or "typical" women of 18th century America, but she is certainly a source for understanding why we hold the ideals we have for women today. In this sense, Abigail Adams is a prophet for the modern women's movement, but she is not a source for understanding the average and typical women of the 18th century. This is because so many women of the 18th century were not afforded the luxuries that Adams had: time, access to books, as well as a father who loved learning and sharing that love with his children."
Tags: liberation, revolutionaries, society, culture, freedom, household, continental, congress
Abstract This paper looks at "Dearest Friend" by Lynne Withey. The author discusses the author's life and works, analyses and summarizes the book, examines the author's achievements of her thesis and goals, gives Withey's conclusion and opinions as a reader. Positive and negative aspects of the book are illustrated and it is concluded that the book is an educational read depicting the story of Abigail Adams, the unqualified minister's daughter, who became the most powerful and significant woman in Revolutionary America.
From the Paper "The book Dearest Friend by Lynne Withey started her professional career as an Assistant Director in a press in 1986 and later became an Associate Director in 1993, having the task for strategic planning along with general operations. Furthermore, she has played a very important part in shaping not only editorial programs but also assisted in obtaining books in music, history, Asian and Middle Eastern studies, and public health and even launched the Press's electronic publishing program.
Moreover, she is the writer of four books that also include the newly reissued Dearest Friend, A Life of Abigail Adams, and Voyages of Discovery: Captain Cook and British Exploration of the Pacific. As for her qualification, she is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and majored in American Studies and from the University of California, Berkeley she later received a Ph.D. in history. From 1974 till the year 1979 at the University of Iowa, she was an assistant professor of history as well as at Boston University she was a visiting assistant professor from the year 1977 till 1978."
Tags:abigail, adams, america, revolution, minister
Abstract This paper discusses key themes of fragmentation, anger, unity and injustice in Abigail Zuger's "Strong Shadows: Scenes from an Inner City AIDS Clinic" in comparison with other texts about AIDS.
Abstract This paper is a biography of John Adams and his time as president. It also discusses his wife Abigail. The paper explores Adam's personal combative style and his controversial political writings. The author expands on his reputation as a powerful politician.
From the Paper "John Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A Harvard-educated lawyer, he soon became identified with the patriot cause and became a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses. He was one of the leaders in the movement for independence from England. Adams also has the distinction of being the only founding father not to own slaves during his life. The World Almanac Book of Facts reports that during the Revolutionary War he served in France and ..."
Tags: John Adams, Federalist, president, Abigail, Jefferson, Continental Congress
Abstract This paper relates how, in "The Primacy of Love", Paul Waddell offers the ethics of St. Thomas Aquinas. The paper uses Aquinas' perspective to examine why the main character Abigail, in A. Mannette Ansay's novel, "Sister", does what she does. The paper applies Aquinas' system of ethics to explain Abigail's choices throughout the novel.
From the Paper "For more than a year between January 1692 and May 1693, an outbreak of witch craft terrified the residents living in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Hundreds of people were accused, the majority forced to deteriorate in jail while their cases were studied and considered for trial. Accused witches were forced to confess to witchcraft, under the fear that if they did not, they would be executed. The trials were usually brutal and unfair, the charged were guilty before proven innocent, and the only option for their survival was to confess and name their charges. In reality, there never were any real witches in Salem, it all began with one little girl named Abigail Williams and the lies and stories that she told."
This paper explores the reasons why specific famous and less famous individuals were in favor or not of the revolution. It also explains that the revolution was fought for economical reasons.
1,816 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 58.95
Abstract A paper about revolutionary times in America. The author explains how import it was to have big names like Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson on the side of the patriots. The author then tries to show how the revolution was mostly fought for economical reasons.
From the Paper "Without the support of the colonists, the patriots could not have won the American Revolution. There were many famous supporters including Benjamin Franklin, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Those less famous supporters also made a significant impact. They include the citizens involved in the Boston Massacre and young soldiers such as Joseph Plumb Martin. Although there were many supporters, there was also some opposition including Catherine Van Cortlandt. By looking at these previously mentioned names, one can determine that the Revolution was fought for economic reasons and a desire to end British tyranny."
Tags: Benjamin, Franklin, Abigail, Adams, Thomas, Jefferson
Abstract This paper follows John Adams through his career with an emphasis on the " the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived? the job of George Washington's vice-president.
From the Paper "John Adams was very much involved with the government before he was elected president. He was a consulter and a writer for newspapers that critiqued the government of the day. John Adams was elected as a member of the Massachusetts legislature. However, this prestigious position was revoked as he rejoiced when the Bostonians dumped the hated British tea into the Boston harbor. During the Boston Massacre, shots were fired upon the citizens of Boston who taunted and heckled the British troops. None other than "John Adams represented the British soldiers to be innocent and in danger of being railroaded by the colonists if action was not taken" (Degregorio, 24). When Britain retaliated, John Adams was elected as a radical to the First Continental Congress in 1774. John Adams held strong ambitions for foreign policy and helped write the resolutions of May 10, 1776. He also strongly defended the Declaration of Independence such that he had certified it with his signature."
Abstract This paper explores the importance and influence of Republican motherhood on early American education. The author includes a mother's responsibilities to indoctrinate her children into developing American ideologies. Includes writings by Mary Wollstonecraft and Abigail Adams.
From the Paper "The Republican Party is one of the two major political parties of USA. Jefferson's Republican Democrats used the name but the modern Republican Party originated in 1854 as an alliance of those who were opposed to the extension of slavery in the new territories in Western USA. After the election of the first Republican President, Lincoln in 1860, the Republicans were usually the ascendant party until the 1930s becoming identified with conservative business interests. During the time when the Republican Party was formed, a number of significant issues were being raised at a national level to arouse interest and create awareness within the masses. These issues pertained to slavery, sectionalism, temperance, immigration, anti-Catholicism, a decline of moral character and an uncertain and changing economic structure. However what most historians and scholars tend to overlook is the fact that a number of women were coming forth and quite blatantly standing up for the rights of women."
