SARAH R. LITTLE

ABIGAIL ADAMS
Atypical Woman; Ideal Republican

Abigail Adams was an atypical woman whose tendency to break from the norm led her to become one of the first feminists in American history. Her atypical nature also led to her development as a pillar of republican virtue, womanhood, and motherhood.

Atypical is defined by the American Heritage College Dictionary as “not conforming to type; unusual or irregular.” Typical women in the early republic were poorly educated, stationary, and politically naive. In these respects Abigail is not only atypical, but completely the opposite of the norm.

Abigail was taught to read and write at an early age in her father’s home. Her education was patchy, for example though she had a great love of reading, she never learned the rules of punctuation. Her brother-in-law influenced her education and planted the seeds for her lifetime love of letters. From these early days of reading Classic poetry to the end of her life reading biographies of contemporary personalities, Abigail Adams was well read and studious.

Most women at the time of the American Revolution were not able to travel extensively within their own country, let alone internationally. When she was first married, Abigail Adams wrote to a male cousin who would be traveling abroad saying, "had nature formed me of the other Sex, I should certainly have been a rover." She received opportunities to travel that she had never expected. Abigail traveled with her husband to Europe, and well as living in many places within the United States. While the Adams family always returned to the family home, there were several other homes that Abigail presided over.

The political environment of Abigail's time excluded women as a whole. Unable to vote, the bulk of women felt no obligation to be active in the system. Abigail was fortunate enough to have a husband who valued her thoughts and opinions. When she had something to say on a political subject, he listened. John Adams may not have always taken Abigail seriously, but he encouraged her to think politically. When the political circumstances were not ideal in Abigail's eyes, she would also do work to change them herself by speaking her mind and attempting to convince people who could vote to think her way.

Republicanism was a prime factor in Abigail Adams's development as an adult. The three facets of republicanism that affected Abigail the most were the development of republican virtue, republican womanhood, and republican motherhood. A virtuous republican feels that moral behavior in the private sector reflects on the moral situation in the public sector. Public virtue then, was the foundation of republic. Family was considered to be a microcosm of society. The functional aspect of this idea was that when American families are working well, the rest of society is also functioning properly.

The duties of republican womanhood involved following the proper steps to improve society. A good republican woman should have been educated enough to teach reading and writing, and to manage a household. Upon completing her education, she should have concentrated on choosing an appropriate mate. One of Abigail’s favorite authors wrote that a woman unable to find a suitable husband should be fee to become a “Protestant “nun.”” A republican woman should also have had due influence over her husband once she married. That influence should be used to assist in the decisions that her husband would have to make, as well as to make choices on his behalf when he is away serving his country. The last duty of a republican woman was to become a republican mother.

Once a woman began to have children, her role as republican mother also began. From the earliest days of a woman's life as a mother, she was expected to train and educate her children to be good American citizens. Both boys and girls should be educated. The goal in educating boys was so that they would be prepared to enter politics, while girls should be prepared to be good women, wives, and mothers. The children would also be conditioned to be self sacrificing under the guidance of their republican mother. The spirit of self sacrifice prepared children to give up their private hopes and dreams when they are called upon to serve the greater good of the country, and for an example the children only had to look at their mother. The ultimate goal of republican motherhood was to prepare children to be model citizens who would participate in the political arena.

Abigail Adams embodies all of these republican ideals. She was virtuous both in her public and private lives. She discouraged any inappropriate behavior, even when the person she viewed as acting inappropriately was her own son. Abigail chose her husband carefully and was quite well educated. She was able to manage her husband’s properties and the household while he was away on business. She also discussed politics with her husband and, later, her eldest son as well. Abigail gave birth to five children. As they grew she read to them from the Bible on a daily basis and encouraged them to grow and develop, even when it hurt to see them go.

Abigail Adams lived a life that allowed her to be everything that a republican woman should be. She had opportunities to go places and do things that were completely atypical and develop tastes and traits that made her the ideal role model for future generations. Unfortunately, being the child of the ideal role model was not a comfortable position. Of the four of her children who survived to adulthood only one lived up to her example; John Quincy Adams. Nabby Smith was a bland personality who married a very unwise and unlucky man. Charles Adams was an indebted, untrustworthy, alcoholic who died young. Thomas was also an alcoholic and rather unremarkable otherwise. This fact brings to the forefront the fact that perfection of character is a positive attribute historically, but can have negative effects contemporarily.


Endnotes will be made available here at the earliest opportunity