My Dearest Friend: Letters of John and Abigail Adams. (n.d.). My Dearest Friend: Letters of John and Abigail Adams. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://specialcollections.vassar.edu/exhibits/my_dearest_friend/remember_the_ladies.html
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Martha Washington. (n.d.). Martha Washington. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www.revolutionary-war.net/martha-washington.html
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Abigail Adams exemplified a notable societal role as she voiced her concerns for the rights of women through many progressive political opinions. Her bravery to advocate for the equality of all people created the revolutionary idea that our “Founding Fathers” were not the only historical figures during the American Revolution as she clearly demonstrated the role of a “Founding Mother”. Our Founding Fathers composed the Declaration of Independence to pronounce that “all men are created equal,” but Abigail Adams begged to differ as she was a victim amongst all women who were not granted equivalent chances of men. She did not approve of being “pushed to the sidelines as dependents of men, without the power to bring suit, make contracts, own property, or vote.” (ushistory.org, n.d.) Abigail Adams proved that she was more than just the First Lady of John Adams - the second President of the United States. She had a vision for education to exist in front of women of all races, and for women to have the opportunity to be more than subordinate to their husbands. (Miles, 2001)
Her desire to establish equality amongst all genders and races was shown through many letters that she wrote to her husband. These letters showed that they shared an equal marriage where Abigail Adams felt comfortable to voice the ideas that many women dreamt of, but were too afraid to say out loud. (Carosella, 2012) She wrote one letter, in particular, that brought out a demand for President John Adams “to give women more rights in the new country he was helping to create. She went on to threaten a rebellion against the new laws if women were not given a say in them”. (Carosella, 2012) A portion of the letter read, “I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation”. (Remember the Ladies: The First Ladies, 2010) Her letters showed grammatical errors since she was not educated in a school, but they never lacked any amount of intellect. Men may have believed that “Women should stick to knitting,” but Abigail Adams preferred to knock down such crude and sexist views that influenced men to hold authority over women. (Miles, 2001)
Her desire to establish equality amongst all genders and races was shown through many letters that she wrote to her husband. These letters showed that they shared an equal marriage where Abigail Adams felt comfortable to voice the ideas that many women dreamt of, but were too afraid to say out loud. (Carosella, 2012) She wrote one letter, in particular, that brought out a demand for President John Adams “to give women more rights in the new country he was helping to create. She went on to threaten a rebellion against the new laws if women were not given a say in them”. (Carosella, 2012) A portion of the letter read, “I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If perticuliar care and attention is not paid to the Laidies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation”. (Remember the Ladies: The First Ladies, 2010) Her letters showed grammatical errors since she was not educated in a school, but they never lacked any amount of intellect. Men may have believed that “Women should stick to knitting,” but Abigail Adams preferred to knock down such crude and sexist views that influenced men to hold authority over women. (Miles, 2001)
The video above is a short bio on Abigail Adams. It highlights her attitude to gain knowledge in politics, along with her strong will to give her opinions when women were encouraged to not speak up. The video discusses the letters that were written between Abigail Adams and her husband. Adams was sarcastically called Mrs. President, but that did not stop her from counseling her husband, John Adams, on many issues.
Mini BIO - Abigail Adams. (2012, October 17). YouTube. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCMm-u5QOVw
Mini BIO - Abigail Adams. (2012, October 17). YouTube. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCMm-u5QOVw