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Reverend William Smith
Reverend William Smith was the father of Abigail Adams and a Congregational minister. However, he did not preach about the Trinity or the full divinity of Christ. Instead, he emphasized the significance of reason and morality, which most likely led Abigail Adams to become an Unitarian. -
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Elizabeth Quincy Smith
Elizabeth Quincy Smith was the mother of Abigail Adams. She taught Adams how to read and write since Adams was not healthy enough for formal schooling. Smith's relatives owned large libraries, which enabled Adams to study English and French literature. Because of her mother, Adams was intelligent enough to have many opinions on government and politics, which are opinions she would eventually stand up for. -
Birth
Abigail Adams was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. -
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Abigail Adams Lifetime
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Abigail Adams and John Adams Meet
John Adams and Abigail Smith meet for the first time. They became reacquainted in two years. -
Marriage
Abigail Adams married John Adams in the Smiths' home in Weymouth, MA. -
Abigail Adams Smith Birth
Abigail Adams Smith was birthed in Quincy, MA by Abigail Adams and her husband, John Adams. -
John Quincy Adams Birth
Abigail Adams and John Adams birthed John Quincy Adams, the future 6th president of the United States, in Quincy, MA. -
Susanna Adams Birth
Abigail Adams and her husband, John Adams birthed their second daughter, Susanna Adams, in Suffolk County, MA. -
Charles Adams
Abigail Adams and John Adams birthed their second son, Charles Adams, in Quincy, MA. -
Thomas Boylston Adams Birth
Abigail Adams and John Adams birthed their third son in Quincy, MA. -
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John Adams' Stay in Philadelphia, PA
While John Adams was staying in Philadelphia, during the Continental Congresses, he and his wife, Abigail Adams, exchanged many conversations through letters, which gave Abigail Adams a chance to state her opinions on government and politics. -
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United States Voting Right in 1776
White men with property can vote in the United States. However, free black men can vote in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. This voting right discludes women's suffrage, which may have caused Abigail Adams to stand up for women's rights. -
March 31, 1776 Letter to John Adams
Abigail Adams requested her husband to "...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." This letter was one of the first movements towards women's rights. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence specified that all "men" are created equal. This document technically did not include the rights of women, which may have influenced Abigail Adams to try to fight for women's rights even more. -
Elizabeth Adams Birth
Abigail Adams gave birth to her stillborn daughter, Elizabeth Adams. -
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Moving to France
Abigail Adams and her daughter, "Nabby" Adams, joined her husband and son, John Quincy, at her husband's diplomatic post in Paris, France. There, she filled the role of wife of the United States minister to the Court of St. James. -
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John Adams' Presidential Term
Throughout her husband's time as president, Abigail Adams was very politically active, which resulted in some refering to her as "Mrs. President". -
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The United States Presidential Debate of 1800
John Adams was defeated by Thomas Jefferson in his presidential re-election campaign, which led the Adams family to retire to Quincy, MA. -
Death
Abigail Adams passed away at age 73 of typhoid fever in Quincy, MA. Her last words were "Do not grieve, my friend, my dearest friend. I am ready to go. And John, it will not be long." -
The Nineteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution
The Nineteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote based on sex, which supports Abigail Adams' idea of giving more opportunities to women. -
The Abigail Adams Coin
The United States Mint issued half-ounce $10 gold coins and bronze medal duplicates to honor the first ladies of the United States. The Abigail Adams coin sold out in just hours.
