The Adams Family

John, Abigail, John Quincy, Charles Francis

This project invit you to look at one of the most important families in American history: the Adams family. The best-known member is of course the second president of the United States, John Adams. He was one of the earliest and strongest voices for revolution and independence, one of America's great diplomats, a sophisticated political thinker, a loyal vice president to George Washington and then president in his own right. Running close behind John Adams are his wife, Abigail, and his son John Quincy. Abigail Adams was as sophisticated politically as any woman of her era, and could hold her own both with her husband John and with President Thomas Jefferson. A early feminist, she urged her husband while he was busy with the American Revolution to “remember the ladies,” lest they foment a revolution of their own. Abigail and John's son, John Quincy Adams, was also a lifelong politician and perhaps the greatest diplomat in American history. Extremely well educated, he was also one of the most intelligent men ever to hold the office of President. His most valuazble contributions to the nation's history, however, may have been his untiring efforts in opposition to slavery, which he carried out as a congressman for 15 years after serving as president. He was recognized most recently in the film “Amistad,” in which his appearance before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the African slaves was dramatized.

John's cousin Samuel Adams was better known in his own time, as least until John became vice president under Washington. Sam was more radical than his cousin and led the Massachusetts resistance against British rule early on, during the period when cousin John was defending British soldiers chared with murder in the Boston Massacre. Sam's radical views led him to oppose ratification of the Constitution as well.

The least known member of that great family in early times was Charles Francis Adams, son of John Quincy. Also well educated and politically sophisticated, he ran for vice president with Martin Van Buren on an antislavery ticket and the 1848 election. He is most famous, however, for being the United States ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War. His carefully orchestrated diplomatic relations with his British hosts were instrumental in keeping Great Britain from joining the Confederate side and from rendering assistance to the rebels under the table. Yet another Adams, Henry Adams, the son of Charles Francis, became famous as a Harvard historian and author of his well-known “Autobiography.”

Any one or more of those Adams worthies would make an excellent essay subject.

TV/DVD: The recent HBO series on John Adams was excellent in all respects—sound history and fine protrayal of Adams and his revolutionary colleagues. Laura Linney was especially impressive as Abigail.

Sources:

• John Adams, Inaugural Address: On the Constitution
• John Adams, On the XYZ Affair
• John Adams, Thoughts on Government
• About Abigail Adams
• Abigail Adams letter to Thomas Jefferson
• John Adams resources
• John Adams Quotations
• John Quincy Adams, Inaugural Address

Further Resources: Books

• My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams by Abigail Adams, John Adams, Joseph J. Ellis, and Margaret A. Hogan
• Abigail Adams: A Biography by Phyllis Lee Levin
• The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams by John Adams and Lester J. Cappon
• John Adams by David McCullough
• John Quincy Adams: (The American Presidents Series) by Robert V. Remini and Arthur M. Schlesinger
• John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life by Paul C. Nagel
• Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis
• John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty by C. Bradley Thompson

Writing 121 | Updated September 11, 2008