About This Lesson
Abigail Adams, one of America's most influential early advocates for equality, dedicated her life to championing the rights of women and speaking out against the injustices of slavery. As the wife of John Adams, a Founding Father and the second U.S. president, Abigail was a trusted advisor and an intellectual equal, often urging her husband to "remember the ladies" in the formation of the new nation's laws. She was a trailblazer for women’s rights, advocating for greater education, property rights, and legal recognition for women at a time when their voices were often dismissed. Abigail also condemned slavery, recognizing its inherent immorality and the contradiction it posed to the ideals of freedom and justice on which the country was founded. Through her letters and actions, she left a lasting legacy as a powerful voice for social reform and human dignity in America's early years. [November 22, 1744 - October 28, 1818]