Patriotism

Cover image: Adams, Abigail. Letter to John Adams, November 5, 1775. Adams Family Papers, https://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/archive/doc?id=L17751105aa&bc=%2Fdigitaladams%2Farchive%2Fbrowse%2Fletters_AA.php Accessed 30 May 2019.

As the wife of a patriot, politician, diplomat and eventually, a president, Abigail had a role to play as a wife and First Lady. Her need to be patriotic intensified while in Europe as she had to put forth a positive image of the new nation. 

Before arriving in Europe, Abigail played an important political role in transmitting information about local news while John was away on diplomatic missions. As she noted in 1780 to John Adams: “what a politician you have made me?” Abigail's political observations and correspondence with John are one of the most important objects she has left behind to historians and scholars; these letters highlight her patriotic role as a relayer of information during the revolution and have continued to be an informative source for modern individuals. 

While in Europe, despite being with John Adams, she did not give up her role of transmitting information. This is noted when Thomas Jefferson complemented her acute observations regarding Europe and persuades her to keep sending them to him: “thank you for the intelligence it contains. You refered me to Mr. Adams for news; but he gives me none; so that I hope you will be so good as to keep that office in your own hands.” Abigail continuing to share information shows that she was deeply cognizant and involved in the political world around her. 

During her time abroad, Abigail also encountered resentment from the press, particularly before being presented at court: “the Tory venom has begun to spit itself forth in the publick papers as I expected, bursting with envy that an American Minister should be received here with the same marks of attention politeness and civility which is shewn to the Ministers of any other power.” Despite bitterness from the English press, she was quick to give England praise, noting in 1784 that she had a “partiality for this Country.” Abigail also responded to this resentment cordially and even, as Woody Holton, author of Abigail Adams: A Life notes “demonstrated a surprising willingness to reconcile not only with the British but with the Americans who had returned to the mother country rather than rally to the Patriotic banner.” This reconciliation and cordiality may have served a political over a personal role, as she did not want America to come across as spiteful during a time when her husband was trying to bolster Anglo-American relations. The tension between Abigail's admiration and dislike for England also shows that America was a new nation owing much of its cultural foundation to England. This represents the nationalistic and cultural limbo America experienced after the war. 

Ultimately though, despite this “limbo”, Abigail was impartial to evolving American values. As she expressed in a letter to Elizabeth Smith Shaw upon seeing the income disparities between the English laboring class and the wealthy inhabitants of the city of London, Abigail wrote: “When I reflect upon the advantages which the people of America possess, over the most polished of other Nations, the ease with which property is obtaind, the plenty which is so equally distributed, their personal Liberty, and Security of Life and property, I feel gratefull to Heaven, who marked out my Lot in that happy land.” Although Abigail's patriotic comment expresses a deep belief in the emerging American values, they may come across as problematic to modern readers as many people in America, notably slaves, could not obtain a property with “ease” or have “plenty which is so equally distributed" during the eighteenth century. Abigail's patriotic comment shows that, although she held progressive ideas and values, her views on America and who was American were still products of her time; this is an important aspect of understanding not only her personal views on America but also the context of who was "American" during her lifetime.

Looking Guide: How may have Abigail defined who was "American?" How may she have differentiated between someone who was "American" and someone who was "not American?" What might this differentiation say about human rights and values in early America?

Abigail also expressed homesickness for the America in a letter to Mercy Otis Warren from Auteuil on September 5th, 1784 in which she notes that she wishes she could transplant her friends "round me in the Village of Auteuil, with my habits, tastes, and Sentiments, which are too firmly riveted to change with change of Country or Climate." 

Looking Guide: How may have Abigail’s role as the wife of a diplomat have affected her views of America?

The primary balance she encountered while being the wife of a diplomat was between respecting monarchical governments while in Europe and retaining her patriotism is expressed when she was presented to the English court in 1785. Although “the Queen was evidently embarrassed when I was presented to her [and] I had dissagreeable feelings too” the court, king and queen were kind. Along with a long description about being presented to court to her sister, she noted that “the Ladies of the Court, Rank and title may compensate for want of personal Charms, but they are in general very plain ill shaped and ugly.” Abigail quickly followed up her critique by telling Mary Smith Cranch not to “tell any body that I say so.” Therefore, Abigail understood that although America was founded based on rejecting the values and customs of England, her role suggested that she could not completely disrespect them.

Abigail's political role and life while in Europe marked a shift in the responsibilities she held while in America. It is not difficult to assume the astonishment Abigail must have felt while being presented at court and performing her duties as she did not come from a noble family. Despite this, Abigail's strong observations and political awareness allowed her to perform her duties abroad and prepare her for her future role as the first lady effectively.

Looking Guide: How would Abigail define patriotism? Is it different from how an American might define this today?