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Quiz for Document 7–2: Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 1776

Choose the best answer to each question.

1. Why did John Adams respond to Abigail Adams’s request for women’s rights by saying men’s rule was “little more than Theory”?

The king still ruled over men.

Men remained bound by laws.

Men were confined by circumstance.

At the end of the day, men were ruled by women.

2. According to John Adams, what was the difference between New England and the southern colonies?

The southern colonies seemed much more passionate about the revolution than the New Englanders.

People in New England were well read and well informed about revolutionary ideas while only some of the southern upper class were as well informed.

Most of the people in the South were wealthy while most people in New England were very poor.

New Englanders supported the revolution because of their religious ideals while the southern colonies were guided by secular ideas.

3. What were John and Abigail Adams’s opinions of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense?

They believed it was too extreme in its rhetoric about the need for independence and a revolution.

They were both very impressed with his ideas, though John Adams was critical of Paine’s plans for setting up the government.

John Adams thought it was excellent, but Abigail Adams wished it addressed the rights of women and slaves.

They both enjoyed the pamphlet but were disappointed that few others had heard of it.

4. Which of the following correctly describes John Adams’s opinion of the pace of the revolution?

He believed they needed to slow down the revolution to try to keep peace with Great Britain.

He argued that Congress was taking too long to set up the new government.

He was impressed by how quickly the revolution had taken place.

He believed George Washington needed to act more decisively so they could quickly defeat the British.