Little Known First Ladies: Angelica Van Buren Quiz

Answer: Sarah

Angelica Singleton's real first name was Sarah but no one ever called her that. She was stereotypically Southern in manners and style until she went to Philadelphia to be educated in European arts. Angelica's classes were all in French, a language she quickly picked up and she started emulating all things French. She even went by the name Angelique for a time.

Answer: Dolley Madison

Angelica was distantly related to former First Lady Dolley Madison. Dolley was a frequent presence in the White House even long after her tenure as First Lady ended. President Van Buren was widowed in 1819 when his wife Hannah died from tuberculosis. Dolley served as unofficial First Lady for the president until Angelica married his son Abraham and took on the role herself. Angelica and Abraham were introduced by Dolley when the former First Lady brought Angelica and her sisters to the White House to pair them up with Van Buren's sons, all of whom were bachelors.

Answer: She was a Southerner marrying into a Yankee family

Slavery and abolitionism were the hot issues during Van Buren's presidency. He tried to walk the line between Northern abolitionists (of which he was) and the powerful Southern slave owners. Van Buren and his family were seen as stereotypical Yankees so Abraham's marriage to the Southern Angelica proved advantageous to the president as he now had a connection to the South. Angelica was not pleased with what she saw as her father-in-law kowtowing to abolitionists, and tried to push a Southern influence on him.

Answer: Royalty

In 1839, Angelica and Abraham finally went on their honeymoon to England and other parts of Europe. While there, Angelica was treated like royalty and was sometimes even referred to as Queen of the United States. After returning home, Angelica began running the White House as if she were a queen.

She refused to shake guests hands, believing such a thing was undignified for a woman in her position. Angelica's aunt tried to convince her that America was not Europe and she was not royalty but Angelica did not heed her warning.

Answer: False

Martin Van Buren was defeated for re-election in 1840 in a competitive but clear result. Angelica was widely blamed for his loss. The country was in deep economic despair and Angelica's lifestyle was seen as a huge negative for Van Buren. Despite constant criticism from Van Buren's opponent, William Henry Harrison, and the press, Angelica refused to curtail her spending at all.

She tried to completely renovate the White House including building vast gardens like the ones found at royal palaces in Europe.

She was seen by the public as snobbish and elitist and did not appeal to anyone including her fellow Southerners who found her too French.

Answer: Ireland

Angelica's uncle was Andrew Stevenson who served as U.S. Ambassador to Britain and Ireland, Ireland then being part of Britain. Stevenson attempted to push Irish politician Daniel O'Connor to meet with his niece and bestow gifts upon her. This led to an argument between O'Connor and Stevenson and O'Connor called uncle and niece liars and criminals.

He specifically called Angelica a slave breeder. Stevenson challenged O'Connor to a duel but the duel was declined. The interaction sullied the U.S. position in Britain and Ireland and was used against Martin Van Buren.

The president's refusal to recall Stevenson caused domestic concern that he was bestowing favorable and important positions to friends and relatives.

Answer: Gold Spoon Oration

Angelica's spending habits were quite well known and frequently criticized. Pennsylvania Congressman Charles Ogle delivered a speech in Congress called the Gold Spoon Oration. The speech was given in response to Angelica's plans to renovate the White House lawn and interior. Specifically, he object to nearly $4,000 Van Buren had asked Congress for to repair furniture.

The speech lasted three days and was printed in a campaign pamphlet for William Henry Harrison.

Answer: Lindenwald

The Van Burens returned to the president's hometown of Kinderhook, New York after his defeat. The president had future political ambitions and intended to use his estate of Lindenwald as a political headquarters. Angelica maintained and ran the estate just like she had done the White House. She renovated various rooms and gardens and helped Van Buren with his unsuccessful future presidential runs.

Today Lindenwald is part of Martin Van Buren National Historical Site. Washington Irving, prior to Van Buren owning the property, once lived at Lindenwald and wrote some of his most famous works there.

Answer: Her sister was in an abusive marriage

Angelica, who had always lived a luxurious life of pride, never really concerned herself with charitable efforts or the needs of others. That was until her sister Marion attempted to sue her abusive husband. Marion's lawsuit failed and she was trapped in a marriage with a husband who beat her because women did not have much recourse to sue their husbands at that time. Angelica then took up the cause of fighting for women's rights within their marriages and elsewhere.

She became more charitable as well after visiting the impoverished in Europe.

Answer: Confederacy

Although Angelica spent much of her adult life in the North in New York City with her husband and remained there after she was widowed, Angelica's southern roots made her side with the Confederacy. Her position toward slavery had somewhat softened but she still supported the institution. During the war, Angelica's biggest acts were supporting Confederate prisoners of war in New York prisons.

She sent them care packages and blankets. She had many family and friends in the South who she also supported by sending money to.

She was also close friends with Varina Davis, First Lady of the Confederacy.