| Year | United States National Events | Abby Kelley Foster Events |
|---|---|---|
| 1811 | January 15 born in Pelham, Massachusetts, seventh daughter of Wing Kelley and fifth daughter of Diana Daniels Kelley In spring family moves to farm in north Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| 1812 | James Madison reelected president War of 1812 | |
| 1816 | James Monroe elected president | |
| 1820 | James Monroe reelected president Missouri Compromise: a plan to keep number of slave and free states equal | |
| 1824 | John Quincy Adams elected president | |
| 1826 | Fanny Wright of Great Britain speaks in New York City on woman’s rights, birth control, divorce and abolition | Attends New England Friends Boarding School in Providence, Rhode Island with classmate Prudence Crandall |
| 1828 | Andrew Jackson elected president | |
| 1831 | The Liberator published by William Lloyd Garrison | |
| 1832 | Andrew Jackson reelected president Nullification Crisis Over Tariffs: South Carolina claims a state's right to ignore a federal law which harms the state | Hears abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison in Worcester Town Hall |
| 1836 | Martin Van Buren elected president Angelina and Sarah Grimke claim their right to speak in public against slavery | Begins teaching at Quaker school in Lynn, Massachusetts Commits herself to antislavery, peace and women's equality on death of her father |
| 1837 | Panic of 1837: nation plunges into economic depression Congregational Pastoral Letter reacts to Angelina Grimke's summer lecture tour | Joins Lynn Female Anti-Slavery Society and is chosen Corresponding Secretary Attends first all-female Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in New York City at urging of Grimke sisters American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS) substitutes using word "persons" instead of "men" |
| 1838 | Women join and serve on committees in New England Anti-Slavery Society | May 13 gives first speech at Second Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Resigns teaching position to become anti-slavery agent and lives with mother in Millbury, Massachusetts then begins lecturing in Connecticut September 28 organizes Peace Convention and founds New England Non-Resistance Society |
| 1840 | William Henry Harrison elected president Female delegates denied participation at World Anti-Slavery Convention John Tyler becomes president | May 12 nominated to Business Committee at Annual American Anti-Slavery Convention in New York City First woman in leadership position causes split in national movement and term "Abby Kelleyism" is used for women who step out of their place in society Lectures in Rhode Island and New York |
| 1841 | Comes out of Uxbridge Meeting of Friends in March Hosts Frederick Douglass in Millbury at quarterly meeting of MA Anti-Slavery Society | |
| 1843 | Lectures in Massachusetts and New Hampshire | |
| 1844 | James K. Polk elected president | Lectures in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and within 50 yards of slaveholding Maryland |
| 1845 | December 21 marries Stephen Symonds Foster in New Brighton, Pennsylvania | |
| 1846 | 1846-1848 Mexican War: Mexico cedes land to US | Encourages Lucy Stone to speak out while lecturing in Ohio and Seneca Falls, NY |
| 1847 | First U.S. postage stamps in use | Purchases farm on Mower Street in Tatnuck area of Worcester May 19 “Alla” Paulina Wright Foster is born at home Lectures in Worcester during August and September |
| 1848 | Zachary Taylor elected president First Woman's Rights Convention: Women issue The Declaration of Sentiments in Seneca Falls, New York | Helps Sarah H. Earle start the Worcester Anti-Slavery Bazaar |
| 1849 | Resumes lecturing in New York and Ohio | |
| 1850 | Millard Fillmore becomes president Compromise of 1850 passes with a strong Fugitive Slave Act | October 23-24 attends First National Woman's Rights Convention in Worcester |
| 1851 | Gives “Bloody feet" speech at Second National Woman’s Rights Convention in Worcester | |
| 1852 | Franklin Pierce elected president | Gives classic non-resistant position when US marshals came to enforce Fugitive Slave Law in Rochester, New York. "I am prepared to throw my body in the way of the kidnappers and risk my life if need be….” |
| 1853 | Lectures across Michigan | |
| 1854 | KANSAS NEBRASKA ACT divides western settlers over slavery issue | Lectures in Wolcottville, Indiana |
| 1856 | James Buchanan elected president | Thinks Garrison has gone soft to accept 'chaff for wheat' by supporting political elections |
| 1857 | DRED SCOTT DECISION: Supreme Court rules slaves are property and not citizens | Alla becomes seriously ill with back problem, probably scoliosis, a disease of curvature of the spine. Becomes General Agent for the AASS so she can stay with Alla |
| 1859 | JOHN BROWN RAIDS HARPER'S FERRY: a violent anti-slavery action | Infighting in AASS trying to find fusion between moral agitation or electoral politics |
| 1860 | Abraham Lincoln elected president | |
| 1861 | CIVIL WAR : North and South are split over sectional differences | |
| 1862 | ||
| 1863 | EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION makes ending of slavery a war aim | |
| 1864 | Abraham Lincoln reelected president | Gathers 400,000 signatures in support of 13th Amendment |
| 1865 | Andrew Johnson becomes president 13th AMENDMENT RATIFIED: abolishes slavery in U.S. | Alla starts at Vassar College |
| 1866 | ||
| 1867 | American Equal Rights Association debates universal suffrage | |
| 1868 | Ulysses S. Grant elected president 14th AMENDMENT RATIFIED: rights of citizenship extended to include blacks for the first time. | 35 pound ovarian tumor removed |
| 1869 | 15th AMENDMENT RATIFIED: extends voting rights to all citizens regardless of race, but not gender | American Anti-Slavery Society disbands |
| 1872 | Ulysses S. Grant reelected president | Alla graduates, elected to Phi Beta Kappa and goes on to Cornell University in first year it is open to women |
| 1873 | Massachusetts women gain franchise in school committee elections | Refuses to pay $70 tax bill until Abby is allowed to vote at town meetings |
| 1874 | Holds "No Taxation without Representation!" convention at Mechanics Hall | |
| 1876 | CENTENNIAL OF OUR NATION Rutherford B. Hayes elected president RECONSTRUCTION ENDS: military occupation of south ends | Alla earns a master of Arts and teaches in Cincinnati, Ohio Alla moves to Roxbury, Massachusetts to be closer to her parents |
| 1881 | September 8 Stephen dies | |
| 1887 | January 14 Abby dies and Alla continues her parents' legacy | |
| 1895 | Alla buys Diamond Ledge in Center Sandwich, NH | |
| 1920 | 19th AMENDMENT: Women gain the right to vote August 26 | |
| 1923 | April 21 Alla dies |