Letters To John: Abigail Adams' Appeals to Time

In Abigail Adams' Letters to John Adams, she makes her political concerns and opinions very clear.  In her letter, Man is a Dangerous Creature, she utilizes Killingsworth's theory of resisting progress.  She writes many things that she is concerned will happen if the colonies separate from Britain.  She asks,

"If a form of Government is to be established here what one will be assumed? Will it be left to our assemblies to chuse one? and will not many men have many  minds? and shall we not run into Dissentions among ourselves?" She also writes,

"The Reigns of Government have been so long slanked, that I fear the people will not quietly submit to those restraints which are necessary for the peace, and security, of the community' if we separate from Britain, what Code of Laws will be established? How shall we be governd so as to retain our Liberties? Can any government be free which is not administered by general stated Laws? Who shall frame these Laws? Who will give them force and energy?"

All of these questions and concerns that Adams writes can be classified as rhetoric of resisting progress because she is pointing out all of the problems and uncertainties that will arise if the colonies separate from England.  This is best defined as Killingsworth's Jeopardy, because Adams is pointing out many of the potential dangers of a certain decision.

However, Adams also utilizes the Rhetoric of Forward Motion in this letter, as she writes, "but whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the Stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion.  Great difficulties may be surmounted, by patience and perseverance."  In these sentences, Adams is looking towards the future, and says that she believes that progress will be possible.

In Adams' Letter, Absolute Power Over Wives, she uses Rhetoric of Crisis.  This is especially obvious in the passage where she is asking John Adams to be generous women when creating new laws.  She is pointing out that a decision needs to be made regarding the new laws, and she is very much in favor of laws that give more power to women.  She even continues to persuade John Adams by pointing out just how powerful women are, and that they have the ability to overcome men in order to gain rights.

She writes, "I can not say that I think you very generous to the Ladies, for whilst you are proclaiming peace and good will to Men, Emancipating all Nations, you insist upon retaining an absolute power over Wives.  But you must remember Arbitrary power is like most other things which are very hard, very liable to be broken--notwithstanding all your wise Laws and Maxims we have it in our power not only to free ourselves but to subdue our Masters, and without violence throw both your natural and legal authority at our feet--"

This is a very powerful statement, especially from a woman at that time.  She is telling her husband just how much she cares about the decision that needs to be made, and is convincing him to make the decision in favor of women.