Strong Women - Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams

1744-1818

Wife of John Adams, the second president of the United States.  She is often known for hanging her laundry inside the White House.  However, she was also a strong advocate of equal public education for women and emancipation of African-American slaves.  Beside raising 5 children and keeping the "home fires" going, she was an influential voice in politics.  Through writing letters she let her voice be known to her husband and others in government positions.   Thomas Jefferson succeeded her husband as president and was the recipient of many letters from Abigail.  Though her letters were well received by those that received them, the advice given was not always taken.  After her death, her letters were published in the first book about a First Lady.  The book and letters were a great source of early United States development.  Her son, John Quincy Adams, became the 6th president of the United States.  She didn't live to see this, but would have been thrilled.  The strength that impressed me came from her influence through letter writing.  What an impact she had on the early development of the United States.

Quotes from Abigail Adams:

If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.

We have too many high-sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.

Well, knowledge is a fine thing, and mother Eve thought so; but she smarted so severely for hers, that most of her daughters have been afraid of it since.