A letter has the power to inspire social movements, start wars, and alter the course of a nation. America’s history is filled with letters that have either been forgotten or deemed unimportant. We have forgotten about the policies a simple letter inspired and the injustices they challenged. The letters listed below go beyond mere words on paper. They showcase how a nation can be influenced by something as simple as words on paper.
George Washington’s Letter to the Continental Congress
In 1775, George Washington became the newly appointed command-in-chief of the Continental Army. His letter to the Continental Congress showed that he thought he lacked proper combat experience, but took on the duty nonetheless, doing it not for profit but for the nation. He worried about the debts incurred by the revolution but understood that certain sacrifices had to be made for victory. This letter shows George Washington’s character and why he was a fantastic president.
South Carolina’s Secession Letter
After Abraham Lincoln took office in 1860, South Carolina legislators were convinced it would benefit them more to leave the Union. Their letter of secession made it clear that their opinions surrounding President Lincoln’s slave acts did not align with those of the Union. In only a few months, eleven other slaveholding states also sent their secession letters to the Union, which ignited the American Civil War.
The Zimmermann Telegram
In 1917, the German Foreign Minister decided to send a telegram to the German Minister of Mexico. The letter described a plan that required Mexico to attack America. Their reward would be certain territories of the United States since they assisted the German cause. After being discovered, the letter enraged America, signaling their entry into World War 1 and their recognition as a global superpower.
JFK’s Letter to Khrushchev
Many nations sat on the edge of their seats when the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred. In 1962, with the crisis at hand, President Kennedy wrote Chairman Khrushchev a letter expressing his concern of a nuclear war breaking out. The president’s stern letter showed strength, which led to negotiations that would see diplomacy prevail and nuclear war become an issue of the past.
George Washington’s Farewell Address
George Washington’s heartfelt letter addressing his people influenced policies, patriotism, and isolationism. He urged Americans that political factions, foreign entanglements, and partisanship would eventually destroy the Union if they were not careful. Even though many policies still echo his words, in this day and age, many presidents and citizens have forgotten or skewed the words of George Washington’s warning.
9/11 Commission Letter to President Bush
After the devastating attacks of 9/11, the commission’s letter urged President Bush to take drastic action investigating security failures that led to the terror attacks. President Bush oversaw many intelligence reforms after the letter, with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security being one of the most influential. His actions spurred on by the letter reshaped the way America has continued to approach national security and counterterrorism.
Alexander Hamilton’s Letter to James Duane
The Articles of Confederation was the first frame of government used by the original thirteen colonies. Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of America, emphasized the weaknesses he found in the Articles of Confederation. He urged the need for a strong federal government, and his ideas laid the foundation of the U.S. Constitution.
Emancipation Proclamation Draft
President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation Draft showed a change in the Civil War, redefining the war as a fight against slavery. Although the immediate effect of the draft was limited, its long-term effect created the 13th Amendment, which would end slavery in the United States. President Lincoln’s efforts inspired many slaves to rise up or flee from their captivity.
Albert Einstein’s Letter to FDR
Without Albert Einstein’s letter, Nazi Germany might’ve succeeded in dropping the first nuclear bomb. After researching the fission chain reaction, Albert Einstein and Leó Szilárd wrote a concerning letter to President Roosevelt about Nazi Germany’s possible development of nuclear weapons. Einstein’s warning led to the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb, which altered warfare forever.
Richard Nixon’s Resignation Letter
The Watergate Scandal, which could’ve led to President Nixon’s impeachment, never occurred as he resigned before a decision was made. President Nixon’s resignation is the first and only ever voluntary resignation of a presidency. Although he took accountability for his and his administration’s actions, the nation would want accountability at the highest level when looking at future presidential candidates.
Harry Truman’s Letter Announcing the Bombing of Hiroshima
With the Manhattan Project resounding as a successful effort, Harry Truman took pre-emptive action to stop the war with the Japanese at any cost, justifying the use of the first ever atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The U.S. saw the action as necessary for quickly stopping an already bloody war, and his letter signaled a new age of warfare that shifted the global power dynamics in favor of the allies.
John Adams’ Letter to Abigail Adams
In the 1700s, women’s rights were barely discussed, especially among political figures, but that changed when John Adams wrote a letter to his wife. John Adams advocated for women’s rights and told Abigail Adams to “remember the ladies”. Although his letter wouldn’t have much support in his time, it foreshadowed movements that would take place in America’s future and bring attention to gender equality in the States.
Robert E. Lee’s Letter to Jefferson Davis
The words of Robert E. Lee show a somber reality of the Confederate states. His descriptions, detailing moral lows, feeble physical condition, and utter misery expressed to other generals, led to the realization that the Confederates had lost the war. Lee described the Confederacy’s fall as inevitable and signaled that the era of Reconstruction was about to begin.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Letter to Congress
Much like President Lincoln, President Johnson cared fiercely for marginalized Black Americans. Thus, he signed the Voting Rights Act, which ceased all racial discrimination in voting and allowed Black Americans to be heard. This legislation is one of the many milestones that fueled the Civil Rights Movement and helped Martin Luther King focus on other developments of the movement.
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to Mrs. Bixby
President Lincoln’s brief yet caring letter to Mrs. Bixby is regarded as one of the most human moments of the presidency in American history. Mrs. Bixby, who was a widow, had lost 5 sons in the Civil War. Once President Lincoln heard of her, he wrote a personal letter that reflects his ideals and immense care for American citizens. It showed how a simple act of humanity can bring light to one of America’s darkest times.
