Discovering Abigail Adams: 12 Fascinating Fun Facts About America's Dynamic First Lady

1. Early Feminist Letters

Before "girl power" was even a concept, Abigail Adams was stealthily sliding women's rights into love letters to her hubby: This founding mother strongly advocated for women's legal and political equality in her correspondence with John Adams during the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, leaving behind a trail of early feminist writings in America.
Source => womenhistoryblog.com

2. Homeschooling Pioneer

While she didn't carry a chalkboard in one hand and a ruler in the other, like a pioneer of homeschooling: Abigail Adams fervently advocated for education, even teaching her own son, John Quincy Adams, geography and history amidst the turbulence of war – an unexpected role for women of her time.
Source => nps.gov

💌 Did you know John and Abigail Adams exchanged passionate love letters during the Revolutionary era? Discover their adorable romance and its historical significance!

=> Fun Facts about John-Adams

3. Self-taught Intellectual

Despite never setting foot in the hallowed halls of academia, Abigail Adams had the last laugh as she turned into a bookworm extraordinaire: Fueled by her tutor Richard Cranch's teachings, Abigail gained a love for literature and poetry, which eventually propelled her to her esteemed status as an intellectual powerhouse in American history.
Source => encyclopedia.com

4. 18th Century Lady Gaga

Long before Kim Kardashian made headlines with her letters to the future, Abigail Adams was busy taking penmanship seriously - one might say she was the "Lady Gaga" of her time, advocating for the rights of women and the downtrodden: As the wife of President John Adams and famed for her sharp wit and strong opinions, Abigail not only played an active role in American politics, but also often corresponded with prominent figures, urging her husband to "remember the ladies" when forming laws and speaking out against the injustices of slavery.
Source => jstor.org

5. Beware of Hamilton

They say beware the ides of March, but Abigail Adams warned her husband to beware of the ambitions of Alexander Hamilton instead, comparing him to the likes of Shakespearean characters and even Napoleon Bonaparte: As a keen observer of character, Abigail Adams cautioned John Adams about Hamilton's dangerous hunger for fame and her concerns only deepened after learning about his infamous affair with Maria Reynolds; she believed such infidelity indicated untrustworthiness in all areas of life, but always insisted that her disapproval didn't equate to a lack of charity.
Source => masshist.org

6. The Original Adams Family

Heard of the Adams Family, but not *that* Addams Family? Well, forget about Morticia and Gomez, the real-life power duo was Abigail and John Adams: Abigail Adams not only held the prestigious title of being a U.S. President's wife, but she also mothered another President, making her one of just two women in history to accomplish this remarkable double play. Additionally, she flexed her intellectual muscles through influential political discussions with her husband and was even cheekily nicknamed "Mrs. President", although she never got to haunt the White House herself, as it wasn't built during John Adams' presidency.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Ladies' Rebellion

Before "girl power" was even a thing, Abigail Adams was busy rocking the boat and stirring up a "ladies' rebellion": In a private letter to her husband John Adams, she bravely urged him to include women's rights in the new code of laws during the American Revolution, giving women a voice in government and society, nearly 150 years before the 19th Amendment granted them the right to vote.
Source => history.com

8. The Literary Hulk

If brains were brawn, Abigail Adams would've been a literary version of The Hulk, smashing through the chains of patriarchy one book at a time: This eighteenth-century wonder woman educated herself by devouring her father's library, becoming one of the most well-read women of her time despite formal education being a male-only privilege, and drawing inspiration from her multifaceted grandfather, Colonel John Quincy.
Source => nps.gov

9. Legal Pillow Talk

When she wasn't whispering sweet legalese in her husband's ear, Abigail Adams may very well have been a pioneer of pillow talk: Mrs. Adams frequently engaged in discussions surrounding her husband's legal career, offering him vital insights and analyses of ongoing cases.
Source => whitehouse.gov

10. Remember The Ladies

Before "girl power" became a catchy phrase and Beyoncé sang about "who run the world?", there was a woman in the 1700s who whispered words of empowerment into her husband's ears: Abigail Adams, spouse of the soon-to-be U.S. President John Adams, persistently advocated for women's rights, urging him to "remember the ladies" while creating the new Code of Laws. Her passion for equality paved the way for the eventual suffrage movement and the fight for fair representation of all.
Source => masshist.org

11. 18th-Century Beyoncé

Before "girl power" was even a glimmer in the Spice Girls' eyes, Abigail Adams was out here fighting for female rights like a true 18th-century Beyoncé: As a passionate advocate for equality, Abigail used her intellect and education to support and advise her husband, John Adams, famously requesting him to "remember the ladies" in a letter, and her impact can still be felt today through their historical correspondence.
Source => nps.gov

12. Farm-to-Table Boss

Who needs FarmVille when you can play Farm-to-Table like a boss in the 18th century?: Abigail Adams mastered agrarian life by managing her family's farm, cultivating crops like barley, and navigating through the challenge of finding workers during the Revolutionary War while still maintaining her responsibilities as a wife, mother, and advocate for gender equality.
Source => masshist.org