Abigail Adams: A Founding Mother

Between John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Adams name is very important to the history of the United States. John Adams was the 2nd president of the United States, and his son, John Quincy Adams became the 6th president of the United States. However, the lesser known Adams that was also very much involved in the history of the young United States was Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams and the mother of John Quincy Adams. Abigail Adams shouldn't just be defined by her relationship to these men, though. It’s important that we recognize her as an intellectual, just like her husband and son. 

Born to a Reverend father, Adams had no formal schooling, but she had access to her family's library, and she had an intense curiosity, both of which allowed her to learn about subjects other women didn't have access to. After marrying John Adams, Adams tended their family and farm while he was gone, and despite married women’s limited property rights, Adams referred to the property she loved on as ‘hers’. During this time apart, as her husband traveled for work, they began writing letters to each other. In these letters, Adams wrote to her husband on issues she believed needed to be addressed, and also on her everyday life back home, dealing with struggles during the revolutionary war. Her most famous letter, written to her husband at the First Continental Congress in 1776, said that the Founding Fathers must ‘remember the ladies’. Her husband valued her advice-even writing to her after being elected president “I never wanted your advice and assistance more in my life…”.

As far as Adam’s beliefs, she wasn’t considered a feminist, though she did advocate for greater legal protection of women, and accessible education for women. Her reasoning for desiring more education for women was the belief in Republican motherhood, which saw mothers as having an important role in raising sons to be good citizens and the republic. Despite this, she did not support women’s suffrage, although it was a little known movement at the time. She also supported the abolitionist movement.

Although not defined as a feminist, Abigail Adams’ ideas were a pivotal part of movement, especially in early Revolutionary times, taking advantage of her privledged position in such close proximity to such a powerful figure in American politics. She truly is a founding mother of our nation.

“Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.” -Abigail Adams