Women's History Month: Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams: wife of John Adams, community leader, intellectual, and considered quite the hottie.

Abigail Adams:  Capable, independent minded, articulate and not that unusual among women in the Yankee American colonies where women were frequently educated and empowered with responsibilities. Not quite like nowadays, but a precursor experience. She supported women's rights, and the abolition of slavery. And she was considered quite attractive, not exactly a super model like Melania, but a 'Venus' of her times.

Abigail Adams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Adams 

The wife of John Adams held down the fort (well, the Massachusetts farm) during the Revolutionary War while he was in Philadelphia. Their correspondence--over 1100 letters--includes sweet

John to Abigail: Miss Adorable

Abigail to John: My Dearest Friend

references, political discussions, and practical input on running
the homestead. She accompanied John Adams to France when he was the ambassador. Not bad for a country girl from the sticks. Her son (John QuincyAdams) became president, too, before Barbara Bush performed that trick.

She was articulate, active, a woman of her own mind. She was American.
The marvelously written book, John Adams by David McCullough includes much about Abigail, too, as does the miniseries and this American Experience production:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/

Here are some of Abigail's thoughts:

The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.

...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.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.

 To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words.

If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps would laugh at me, and accuse me of vanity, but you I know have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the Sentiment. If much depends as is allowed upon the early Education of youth and the first principals which are instill'd take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women.


A people fired ... with love of their country and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of unfortunate events.

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abigail_adams.html#KUDwpTvrJ1P7O1FB.99

If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to forment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.

Women's History Month: Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams: wife of John Adams, community leader, intellectual, and considered quite the hottie.

Abigail Adams:  Capable, independent minded, articulate and not that unusual among women in the Yankee American colonies where women were frequently educated and empowered with responsibilities. Not quite like nowadays, but a precursor experience. She supported women's rights, and the abolition of slavery. And she was considered quite attractive, not exactly a super model like Melania, but a 'Venus' of her times.

Abigail Adams

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Adams 

The wife of John Adams held down the fort (well, the Massachusetts farm) during the Revolutionary War while he was in Philadelphia. Their correspondence--over 1100 letters--includes sweet

John to Abigail: Miss Adorable

Abigail to John: My Dearest Friend

references, political discussions, and practical input on running
the homestead. She accompanied John Adams to France when he was the ambassador. Not bad for a country girl from the sticks. Her son (John QuincyAdams) became president, too, before Barbara Bush performed that trick.

She was articulate, active, a woman of her own mind. She was American.
The marvelously written book, John Adams by David McCullough includes much about Abigail, too, as does the miniseries and this American Experience production:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/adams/

Here are some of Abigail's thoughts:

The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.

...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.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.

 To be good, and do good, is the whole duty of man comprised in a few words.

If we mean to have Heroes, Statesmen and Philosophers, we should have learned women. The world perhaps would laugh at me, and accuse me of vanity, but you I know have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard the Sentiment. If much depends as is allowed upon the early Education of youth and the first principals which are instill'd take the deepest root, great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women.


A people fired ... with love of their country and of liberty, a zeal for the public good, and a noble emulation of glory, will not be disheartened or dispirited by a succession of unfortunate events.

If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abigail_adams.html#KUDwpTvrJ1P7O1FB.99

If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to forment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.

Documentary Review: The Abolitionists

Abolitionist allies Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown and Angelina Grimké turned a despised fringe movement against chattel slavery into a force that literally changed the nation.

So the watcher is introduces to the PBS documentary, "The Abolitionists."

The narratives are carefully written; the performances are powerful in their loyalty to the history.

The questions we have looking back at the slavery question are enunciated clearly in this documentary, whether it be the Southern Belle with a conscience; the young Northern writer who was haunted by the broken families. Or the young mother mourning a loss and identifying with the young black mothers; the little black boy who grew eloquence and voice for all time. The man willing to set the world on fire (and sacrifice his own sons) for his beliefs. The story is carefully and honestly told. No one is perfect, but each was compelled by a mighty sense of purpose and outrage.

The murky darkness of the United States at that time grows increasingly dense in this story. By the Dred Scott case, it is unimaginable that slavery will ever end. I was profoundly impressed that the abolitionists proceeded with their call despite the overwhelming catastrophes of their cause. It was a complete example of  "It's always darkest before the dawn."

The dawn was a very, very long time breaking. How incomprehensible to expect to survive the Civil War with the abolition of slavery. It required Holy Stubbornness.

We have the privilege of perspective. All the way through Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement, many victories both small and great. But to be in the US before Lincoln--that truly demonstrated the audacity of hope for abolition of slavery.

This is an intense documentary. I recommend for secondary kids, but prepare the middle schoolers carefully.