Abigail Adams – The Founding Mother of The United States

Do you know the second first lady of the USA?

Do you know one of the two women that have been the wife and mother of two U.S. presidents?

Abigail Smith Adams wasn't just the strongest female voice in the American Revolution; she was a key political advisor to her husband and became the first First Lady to live in what would become the White House. Her spouse, John Adams, was the second president followed by his son, John Quincy Adams, who was the sixth president of the United States.

Born on November 22, 1744 in Weymouth, MA, Abigail Adams gave birth to six children and five ended up living to adulthood. Her father, William Smith was a minister and Abigail and her three siblings grew up in a home full of love. Her mother, Elizabeth Quincy Smith, supported William and stayed at home with Abigail. Like other women, Abigail had no formal education, but she spent time at the family’s library to master subjects most women never considered. Reading at the library created and strong bond between herself and young John Adams because he too, was an avid reader.

Some things in Abigail’s life that she accomplished were that she was able to fight for women's education rights and raise 5 out of her 6 children even without John. During the eighteenth century, a few women started to work for women’s rights and fought for individual freedoms that were attainable for men but rarely for women. One of these women was Abigail Adams, a supporting wife and American citizen, was more than just a first lady to the president. She was an early female voice who refused to stand by and allow women to be seen as unequal.

One trait that shaped Abigail Adams into one of our Founding Mothers was her perseverance. Abigail had to raise her children on a farm in Braintree. She had to plant the crops, harvest the crops, sheer the sheep for clothing, and it was even harder while John was away serving in the Continental Congress. She kept going no matter what. If she hurt herself she had to forget about it and move on in life, if one of her children got sick she would have to get them well, all by herself she took care of her family. Another trait she exemplified was courage. She showed courage by fighting for women’s rights. She believed that a women’s education should be the same as a man’s. She thought, if men can do it why can’t women?

Abigail Adams was a brave woman who believed that women should have the same rights as men. Without the help from Abigail, women would not have all the rights they have now. That makes her one of our Founding Mothers.