Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams

Who was Abigail Adams? In the mid 1700s, most women in North America spent their lives caring for their husbands, children, and home. Abigail Adams lived a different sort of life. She ran a farm and raised her children, mostly by herself. She also helped shape the United States'first years as a new country.

Early years Abigail was born on November 11, 17744, in Massachusetts. At the time, Massachusetts was one of the thirteen American colonies, which belonged to Great Britain.

Abigail did not go to school. Most girls were not allowed to at the time. Instead, Abigail's mother, Elizabeth, taught her to read and write at home. Abigail was a smart girl who loved to read. She learned about the world by reading her father's many books.

Abigail married John Adams on October 25, 1764. They lived on a small farm that had been in John's family for many years. John worked as a lawyer, and Abigail managed the farm and the money. In 1768, they moved to Boston so John's law business could do better. John was often away from home because of his work.

War with Great Britain Soon after Abigail and John were married, Great Britain began to treat the colonies unfairly. People had to pay many high taxes. Many people in the colonies, including Abigail and John, wanted to break away from Great Britain. They wanted the colonies to become their own country.