Abigail Adams once said, “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” (Adams, Abigail. Letter to Elizabeth Shaw). In every American elementary school classroom, children are being told the story of the country, how George Washington crossed the Delaware River, how Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how America, a colony still in infancy, managed to gain independence from powerful Britain. The Founding Fathers are essential historical personages that every American child is well schooled in, but the women who helped shape the country are rarely discussed. Abigail Adams is mostly known as the wife of the second president John Adams, but she was much more than that, and left an indelible imprint on the political landscape of the time. She is a Founding Mother- full of spark, depth, and intelligence.
SUMMARY
Abigail Adams was an intelligent woman from the day she was born until the day she died. She was raised to have a strong sense of morals and beliefs, as well as a love for education. Her …show more content…
They are solemnized by a sense of the obligations, the important trusts, and numerous duties connected with it. That you may be enabled to discharge them with honor to yourself, with justice and impartiality to your country, and with satisfaction to this great people, shall be the daily prayer of your A.A. (Levin, 306)
Abigail worried for her husband, but she had constant faith in him, and supported him through his entire journey. She was incredibly involved in her husband’s presidency, and was frequently called “Mrs. President”. During the four years that her husband served as President, Abigail made a strong impression on the press and the public. She was unafraid to speak her mind and retained a high profile life. She considered herself the “hostess” of the Federalist