Lesson 13: Abigail Adams and Marie Antoinette Queen of France
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| Marie Antoinette |
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| Abigail Adams |
Abigail Adams and Marie Antoinette Queen of France
In 2020, PBS had a lesson plan about Marie Antoinette to go with their release of a new documentary about her. This material has been removed from the website but the main idea of the lesson plan was to learn about historically significant, politically influential women. In thinking about freedom, it is striking that Abigail Adams and Marie Antoinette were both politically influential at the same time. Comparing the two women is possible only because Abigail Adams wrote so many of her thoughts in letters which are still available to read.
Discussion Questions:
1. What influence did women in the late 1700's or early 1800's have on politics?
2. How did politics affect the livelihood of Abigail and Marie Antoinette?
3. Based on their education opportunities, how much of the big picture of world history do you think women understood?
4. What roles were women expected to perform in public life?
For Younger Learners
Leave it to Abigail Lesson and Activity
The Education of Abigail Adams Lesson Plan
Chateau Versailles - on Marie Antoinette
Library of Congress Resource Guide - on Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette Biography on YouTube
Meet the Mistresses on YouTube
Sources:
National Archives - Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams urging him to "Remember the Ladies"
Marie Antoinette Image Credit: Artist Unknown / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
Abigail Adams Image Credit: Mather Brown / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain