ABIGAIL ADAMSBased on the article “Abigail

Adams”by

Janelle Pavao

WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

• Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to Reverend William Smith and Elizabeth Quincy Smith.

• When she was young she did not receive a proper education due to her poor health, but she had access to her father's library where she learned literature.

• Her mother taught her and her sisters from home.

WHO WAS ABIGAIL ADAMS ?

Abigail Smith married John Adams, who would later become president of the United States. She moved with him to

Braintree before the family moved to Boston where his law practice flourished.

Much of Abigail Adams' marriage was spent at home while her husband was traveling, during which time they

exchanged letters. Over their marriage, over 1,000 letters were exchanged. (Given the postal system at the time, this

was extraordinary.)

Abigail was interested in politics and her husband John asked her advice many times before, during, and after his presidency. She was known by some as "Mrs. President"

because of her strong political activities.

WHAT DID SHE DO ?

Being used to writing and saying exactly as she thought, she

struggled with the composure and civility that were required in an important political position.

She wrote, "I have been so used to freedom of sentiment that I

know not how to place so many guards about me, as will be

indispensable, to look at every word before I utter it, and to impose a silence upon myself,

when I long to talk."

SPOKE HER MIND

Click above for video clip

“I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention

is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves

bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

-ABIGAIL ADAMS-

INFLUENCED INDEPENDANCE

Now it is your turn…

Write a response to Abigail’s letter as John Adams.

Write Abigail Adams a letter regarding the

Declaration of Independence and her

request.

“DEAR ABBY”