On the many interesting takeaways from John and Abigail Adams’
correspondence.
Writing
to his wife Abigail on July 3rd, 1776 (she was back at home in
Braintree managing the family farm and raising their children), the day after
the Continental
Congress had drafted the Declaration of Independence, John Adams argued that
“the Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epoch, in the
History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by
succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be
commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God
Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and
Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward
forever more.”
On one level,
the letter reveals just how much myth-making is inherent in any national celebration—we
celebrate independence on July 4th because the Declaration was signed,
dated, and sent out to the American public for the first time on that day; but
Adams’ emphasis makes clear that the date was and is an arbitrary one, and of
course that Revolutionary acts, like all historical moments, develop over time.
On another level, however, Adams’ letter reveals quite impressively how aware
the Congress was of the significance of what was happening: not only in his
quite thorough prediction of the celebrations that would come to commemorate
the event; but also in his recognition of all that would follow the
Declaration. “You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not,” he
wrote. “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost
Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet
through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can
see that the End is more than worth all the Means.”
Reading the
Adams’ correspondence offers even more Revolutionary realities than those.
For one thing, it deeply humanizes the second President (and by extension all
the framers); I defy anyone to read John’s heartfelt
July 20th, 1776 letter of concern for both his ailing family and
his own separation from them and not feel differently about the man and moment.
For another, the letters provide a visceral and compelling argument for the Revolutionary
era’s hugely impressive community of American women—Abigail was not as publicly
minded as peers such as Judith Sargent
Murray and Annis
Boudinot Stockton, but she makes a thoroughly convincing case for what
Murray called the equality of the sexes: in her overt
arguments for such equality, but just as much in her intelligence, her
eloquence, and her strength in supporting both the family and its business and
her husband and the nation’s. Many of my realities this week have complicated
our idealizing myths, but the Adams letters remind us that some realities were
just as ideal.
Crowd-sourced post this weekend,
Ben
PS. So what would you add? Responses to the week’s posts? Other Revolutionary
histories or stories you’d highlight?
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