The wives of United States presidents can be key American figures as well. Even though they have got no formal responsibilities, the wives form a very important component of the American government. The role of presidents' wives has progressed over hundreds of years, from being hostess in the Whitehouse to activists for public policy.
What follows can be described as a summing up of two incredibly well known first ladies and their respective husbands, but more information may be found on them in history books to read.
Mary Lincoln: Mary Ann Todd was born in Kentucky in December 1818 to an eminent slave-holding family. Relocation to Illinois during her teens was fortuitous since it was in this place that she was to meet and eventually marry an ambitious politician and attorney, Abraham Lincoln. This union produced 4 sons, however only 2 of them, Thomas and Robert, survived to later life.
In November 1860, Lincoln was elected as the sixteenth President of the USA. This prompted a lot of southern states to split from the Union. The majority of Kentuckians in the Todd's social circle, and in fact her stepfamily, were sympathetic to the southern cause, however Mary was an enthusiastic and untiring ally of the Union.
She was sat to the side of President Lincoln in a theatre when he was killed by an assassin. President Lincoln passed away the following day and Mary Todd Lincoln never quite recovered. Mary went back to Illinois and, after the demise of her son Thomas in 1871, fell into a serious depression. Mary's sole surviving son, Robert, had her committed to an asylum for the mentally ill. She was released 3 months later, although never forgave him for what he did. Mrs Lincoln spent her latter years travelling all through Europe, although she suffered from failing health. Mary died on 16 July 1882 at age 63.
Abigail Adams: Born Abigail Smith on 11 November 1744 in Massachusetts, daughter of a minister. She was an incredibly avid reader, enjoying especially the works of Shakespeare and Milton. Abigail was unable to go to school because that was customary for girls at that time. In 1761 she met an attorney called John Adams and in 1765 they got married. They had 4 kids, one of whom was John Quincy Adams, who eventually became the 6th president of the United States 7 years following Abigail's death in 1825.
Together with a busy legal firm and John's later interest in the American Revolution, he spent lots of time away from home, leaving Abigail to manage their farm and care for the family on her own. The pair stayed strong by sending letters to one another, of which there were many.
In one of these letters, Abigail articulated her concern for ladies and requested that her husband would not put unlimited power into the hands of men - saying all men would be despots if they could. Abigail ventured to say: "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."
Abigail often expressed her views on political matters with her husband and served as an informal counsellor to him all through his career. Following the revolution, Abigail Adams united with her husband in England where he worked as the first United States minister to the Court of St James from 1785 to 1788.
When he returned from England, John Adams was elected president in 1797 and Abigail was generally disliked by a number of critics who objected to her because of her prolific expenditure during the Civil War, her frankness and the influence Abigail could wield over her husband.
Even more information on many of the first ladies, the presidents themselves and also American history may be found in books on history and likewise in biographies books.
What follows can be described as a summing up of two incredibly well known first ladies and their respective husbands, but more information may be found on them in history books to read.
Mary Lincoln: Mary Ann Todd was born in Kentucky in December 1818 to an eminent slave-holding family. Relocation to Illinois during her teens was fortuitous since it was in this place that she was to meet and eventually marry an ambitious politician and attorney, Abraham Lincoln. This union produced 4 sons, however only 2 of them, Thomas and Robert, survived to later life.
In November 1860, Lincoln was elected as the sixteenth President of the USA. This prompted a lot of southern states to split from the Union. The majority of Kentuckians in the Todd's social circle, and in fact her stepfamily, were sympathetic to the southern cause, however Mary was an enthusiastic and untiring ally of the Union.
She was sat to the side of President Lincoln in a theatre when he was killed by an assassin. President Lincoln passed away the following day and Mary Todd Lincoln never quite recovered. Mary went back to Illinois and, after the demise of her son Thomas in 1871, fell into a serious depression. Mary's sole surviving son, Robert, had her committed to an asylum for the mentally ill. She was released 3 months later, although never forgave him for what he did. Mrs Lincoln spent her latter years travelling all through Europe, although she suffered from failing health. Mary died on 16 July 1882 at age 63.
Abigail Adams: Born Abigail Smith on 11 November 1744 in Massachusetts, daughter of a minister. She was an incredibly avid reader, enjoying especially the works of Shakespeare and Milton. Abigail was unable to go to school because that was customary for girls at that time. In 1761 she met an attorney called John Adams and in 1765 they got married. They had 4 kids, one of whom was John Quincy Adams, who eventually became the 6th president of the United States 7 years following Abigail's death in 1825.
Together with a busy legal firm and John's later interest in the American Revolution, he spent lots of time away from home, leaving Abigail to manage their farm and care for the family on her own. The pair stayed strong by sending letters to one another, of which there were many.
In one of these letters, Abigail articulated her concern for ladies and requested that her husband would not put unlimited power into the hands of men - saying all men would be despots if they could. Abigail ventured to say: "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."
Abigail often expressed her views on political matters with her husband and served as an informal counsellor to him all through his career. Following the revolution, Abigail Adams united with her husband in England where he worked as the first United States minister to the Court of St James from 1785 to 1788.
When he returned from England, John Adams was elected president in 1797 and Abigail was generally disliked by a number of critics who objected to her because of her prolific expenditure during the Civil War, her frankness and the influence Abigail could wield over her husband.
Even more information on many of the first ladies, the presidents themselves and also American history may be found in books on history and likewise in biographies books.