Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams, the wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams, and the mother of the sixth President, John Quincy Adams, was a prolific and politicallyastute letter writer. Her letters provide us with a wealth of firsthand information about the Revolutionary War and the first three decades of the American republic. In this letter, written to Thomas Jefferson on January 29, 1787, Abigail Adams provides her views on Shays's Rebellion. She believes that the farmers-turned-rebels are "ignorant, restless desperadoes, without conscience or principles." Although she did not support their cause, she remains hopeful that changes precipitated by the rebellion might strengthen the government.

With regard to the tumults in my native state which you inquire about, I wish I could say that report had exagerated them. It is too true, Sir, that they have been...