She is, in one word, legendary. Her story, as history knows it, begins with a chance encounter with John, a rather short and stout man who would one day rise to great importance. But, because neither she nor John were much impressed with the other, the relationship almost never took off. Add to that, her mother took an even less liking to John, so it is quite remarkable that her and John ever got together.
But as fate would have it, they married four years after that first meeting. Abigail was 19 and John, nearly 29. The Adamses would never look back. John was off to his law practice, but Abigail was not content to just sit around. She gave birth to six children in twelve years, ran the household, and was quite the financial wizard. In the mid-1780s, Abigail joined John in Europe as he moved from the role of Envoy to France, to the Minister to Netherlands, and finally to the Minister to the United Kingdom. In 1788, they returned home to Massachusetts, but in less than a year, John would be back in service to his country, this time as Vice-President. In eight years, John would be elected to the office of the Presidency.
As was the custom, Abigail became the hostess for large gatherings in their residence. But the year 1800 brought a major change in their residence, as the nation’s capital was moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. Being the first family to live in the newly constructed home, it was a time of great excitement. However, the Adamses only lived in the White House four months because John failed to get reelected to a second Presidential term.
Abigail was an anomaly during her husband’s presidency. Today we think nothing of the First Lady being involved in work for the country, even to the point of diplomacy. However, in the early days, and for decades following, it would have been unthinkable for the President’s wife to be involved in decision-making. Abigail never fit that mold. She routinely offered her advice and counsel to John. In probably the most famous case of her involvement, and while John and the rest of the Revolutionary guys were busy with organizing a war, a government, and a country, Abigail wrote her husband a letter that has since become indelibly etched in our nation’s history. She penned, “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 was not messing around. Women’s rights were equally important as men’s, and she would do whatever she could to see it through. It is unfortunate “the men” would not heed her words, resulting in 144 years of women having “no voice, or representation”.
There is a long line of individuals who owe much of their work in the women’s suffrage movement to Abigail Adams. She was among the first to highlight the argument for equal rights. Susan B. Anthony (ironically born in Adams, Massachusetts…named for John’s cousin and fellow Revolutionary character Samuel Adams), Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott are just three who gave their all to see women obtain the fundamental right to vote. They have Abigail Adams to thank for starting it all.
Proverbs 31 contains these words, “she dresses herself with strength…she opens her mouth with wisdom…she looks well to the ways of her household…her children call her blessed…a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Powerful words to paint the life of an “excellent wife”…and powerful words to paint the life of Abigail Adams.
Faith, Leadership, and History 