American Virtues in the Letters of John and Abigail Adams during the Revolutionary War

Master's Thesis , 2023 , 57 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Other

Have you ever seen a carpet from below? Probably. You will have noticed a jumble of threads and colors, and it is difficult to see the beauty of the actual pattern from this perspective. The equivalent is applicable to the letters of John and Abigail Adams. If one reads only one or a few letters from the overabundant corpus, it seems like a big hodgepodge of anecdotes from the most diverse areas of life. From philosophizing about the principle of the “Passion of Superiority” in human nature, it merely takes a few lines to ask about the performance of the asparagus in the Adams’ garden (cf. My Dearest Friend). John’s and Abigail’s writings during the Revolutionary War shift in a short time from the occupation with the “inhumane and Brutal Treatment” of war captives to a praise about “The Charms of the Morning” and “The Streakes of Glory dawning in the East”. This back and forth, these ups and downs can be entertainingly varied on the one hand, but also disturbing to the reader on the other. The fact that the flow of reading is disrupted by the fragmentation of individual topics into different letters over a longer period of time can also contribute to the fact that the letters of the couple are not readily brought to hand as a source from the time of the War of Independence. John Adam’s diary, for example, provides a similar or even deeper form of intimacy and familiarity, and its orderly structure by days makes it clearer to handle than an exchange of letters in a time when delivery took days, weeks or even months.
However, the difficulties just depicted also render the correspondence a fascinating object of analysis. This paper will attempt to take the perspective from ‘above’ and see the beautiful pattern on the verso of this tangle.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Revolutionary War
• Letters as a Source
• American Virtues
• Biographical Background
• John Adams
• A Son of His Time
• A Striver for Virtue
• A Rebel in the Making
• A Man of Principles
• Abigail Adams
• Pride and Principles
• Responsibility and Resolve
• Republicanism
• Analysis of Virtues in the Correspondence
• Introduction to the Correspondence of John and Abigail Adams
• Identification and Explanation of Virtues Expressed in the Letters
• Patriotism, Patience and Perseverance
• Treason and Treachery
• Independence, Integrity and Industry
• Licentiousness and Laziness
• Influence of the Letters and "American" Virtues today
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper analyzes the correspondence between John and Abigail Adams during the American Revolution to uncover the virtues they embody and how these virtues contributed to the revolutionary movement. It explores the context of the Revolutionary War, the biographical backgrounds of John and Abigail Adams, and examines their letters for key themes of American virtue.

• The role of virtues in the American Revolution
• The expression of virtue in the letters of John and Abigail Adams
• The influence of these virtues on American society today
• The impact of the Revolutionary War on American identity
• The role of correspondence as a source of historical understanding

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the letters of John and Abigail Adams as a unique source for understanding the American Revolution. It highlights the challenges of reading their fragmented correspondence and argues for a comprehensive analysis that unveils the overarching patterns within their letters.
• The Revolutionary War: This chapter provides a historical overview of the American Revolution, focusing on its causes, key events, and the changing dynamics of the conflict. It examines the role of British imperialism, colonial resistance, and the evolving perspectives of the American people.
• Letters as a Source: This chapter delves into the specific characteristics of letter writing during the War of Independence, addressing the challenges of communication and the unique insights that letters can offer historians.
• Biographical Background: This chapter presents detailed biographical sketches of John and Abigail Adams, outlining their individual journeys and highlighting the key events and influences that shaped their lives and perspectives. It explores their shared values and their contributions to the American Revolution.
• Republicanism: This chapter focuses on the concept of republicanism as a core ideal of the American Revolution and explores how this ideology influenced the thoughts and actions of John and Abigail Adams. It examines their views on government, society, and individual responsibility.
• Analysis of Virtues in the Correspondence: This chapter delves into a close analysis of the letters, identifying and explaining the virtues expressed by John and Abigail Adams. It explores themes such as patriotism, perseverance, independence, integrity, and industry.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary focus of this paper is on American virtues, particularly as embodied in the letters of John and Abigail Adams. Key terms and concepts include the American Revolution, correspondence analysis, biographical analysis, republicanism, patriotism, perseverance, independence, integrity, and industry. The paper explores the significance of these concepts for understanding the Revolutionary era and their enduring relevance in contemporary American society.

• College: University of Wuppertal
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Jonathan Vogel (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 57
• Catalog Number: V1459253
• ISBN (PDF): 9783389003015
• ISBN (Book): 9783389003022
• Language: English
• Tags: Revolutionary War, Virtues, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Patriotismus, Patriotism, Unabhängigkeit, Independence, War of Independence, Unabhängigkeitskrieg, Briefe, Letters