Jonah Patel
Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams—the second President of the United States—was an early advocate for women's rights. In a letter dated March 31, 1776, Adams urged her husband and the other members of the Continental Congress to remember the nation's women when fighting for independence from Great Britain. In her letter, she wrote, I long to hear that you have declared an independancy. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. While John Adams did not take his wife's letter seriously, he sought her opinions on political and other matters throughout his life. Abigail Adams's letter was a crucial first step in the fight for equal rights for women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of letter | 31 March 1776 |
| Recipient | John Adams, her husband |
| Recipient's occupation | Member of the Continental Congress |
| Sender's occupation | First Lady |
| Main request | "Remember the ladies" |
| Tone | Urgent |
| Main argument | "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands" |
| Consequence of ignoring women | "We are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation" |
| Recipient's response | "We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems" |
| Number of letters exchanged | Over 1,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Abigail Adams' letter to John Adams
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, who was in Philadelphia attending the Continental Congress. In her letter, she urged him and the other members of the Continental Congress not to forget about the nation's women when fighting for America's independence from Great Britain.
Abigail's letter is now famously known for her statement, "remember the ladies". She wrote:
> "I long to hear that you have declared an independancy. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, 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 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's letter demonstrates her awareness of the situation of women at the time. She recognised the limitations placed on married women, who had little property rights and were often treated as property themselves. She urged her husband to consider the needs of women when forming the new government, specifically asking him not to put "unlimited power into the hands of the husbands".
John Adams did not take his wife's letter seriously, responding with dismissal and humour. In his reply, he wrote:
> "As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government every where... But your Letter was the first Intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented... We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Altho they are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our Power in its full Latitude. We are obliged to go fair, and softly, and in Practice you know We are the subjects."
Despite his initial response, John Adams sought Abigail's opinions on political and other matters throughout his life. He valued her counsel and advice, and their extensive correspondence provides valuable insight into the social and political climate of the Revolutionary and Early National periods in American history.
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Remember the ladies
In a letter dated March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, urging him and the other members of the Continental Congress to remember the ladies and not forget about the nation's women when fighting for America's independence from Great Britain.
Adams, who was an influential confidant and advisor to her husband, wrote:
> I long to hear that you have declared independence. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, 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 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.
Adams's letter was a private first step in the fight for equal rights for women. She was aware of the situation of women overall and urged her husband to think carefully about the needs of women in forming a new government. She also equated her cause to that of Native people and people of African descent who were fighting for their rights and equal treatment.
John Adams did not take his wife's letter seriously, and in his reply, he treated the sentiment as a joke. Despite this, throughout his life, he sought her opinions on political and other matters, and their correspondence gives historians a unique perspective on domestic and political life during the revolutionary era.
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The fight for equal rights
Abigail's letter was a private yet crucial step in the battle for equal rights for women. She recognised the limitations of her time and the lack of formal education for women, but that did not deter her from expressing her thoughts and desires. In her letter, she specifically requested that unlimited power not be placed in the hands of husbands, highlighting the need to prevent men from becoming tyrants. She threatened rebellion if women were not given a voice and representation, demonstrating her fierce determination and commitment to the cause.
John Adams did not take his wife's letter seriously. In his reply, he treated her sentiments lightly, stating, "We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems." Despite this initial dismissal, John Adams valued his wife's opinions throughout his life, often seeking her advice on political and other matters. He recognised her intelligence and influence, which extended beyond her roles as a wife and mother.
Abigail Adams's advocacy for women's rights extended beyond her famous letter. She opposed slavery, supported women's education, and worked for the political advancement of her son, John Quincy Adams, who became the sixth president of the United States. She also maintained correspondence with prominent political leaders, including presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, even after her husband's loss in the 1801 election.
The journey towards equal rights for women continued long after Abigail Adams's time. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, but this was neither the beginning nor the end of the struggle for gender equality. Women continued to face legal and societal constraints, and the fight for true equality in all aspects of life remains an ongoing battle. Abigail Adams's courageous words and actions laid the foundation for future generations to build upon, serving as a reminder of the power of individual voices in shaping a more just and equitable society.
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John Adams' response
In a letter dated March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, urging him and the other members of the Continental Congress not to forget about the nation’s women when fighting for America’s independence from Great Britain. In her letter, Abigail Adams wrote:
> I long to hear that you have declared independence. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable 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 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.
John Adams replied to his wife's letter on April 14, 1776, treating her sentiment as a joke and demonstrating the limits of revolutionary liberty. In his letter, John Adams wrote:
> As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government everywhere. That Children and Apprentices were disobedient — that schools and Colledges were grown turbulent — that Indians slighted their Guardians and Negroes grew insolent to their Masters. But your Letter was the first Intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented. — This is rather too coarse a Compliment but you are so saucy, I wont blot it out. Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems. Altho they are in full Force, you know they are little more than Theory. We dare not exert our Power in its full Latitude. We are obliged to go fair, and softly, and in Practice you know We are the subjects.
Despite not taking his wife's letter seriously, John Adams sought her opinions on political and other matters throughout his life. When he was elected president in 1797, he eagerly wrote to his wife, "I never wanted your Advice and assistance more in my life...".
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Abigail Adams' influence
Abigail Adams, born in 1744, was an influential figure in the fight for women's rights. She is best known for her letter to her husband, John Adams, in which she urged him and the other members of the Continental Congress to "remember the ladies" when creating new laws and fighting for America's independence from Great Britain. In her letter, Abigail Adams wrote:
> "I long to hear that you have declared independence. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, 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 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."
John Adams, the nation's second president, did not take his wife's letter seriously and replied with a dismissive tone. Despite this, throughout his life, he sought her opinions on political and other matters. Abigail Adams was not only an early advocate for women's rights but also a vital confidant and advisor to her husband. She opposed slavery, supported women's education, and managed their farm and business affairs while raising their children.
Abigail Adams's influence extended beyond her role as a wife and mother. She was an outspoken First Lady who defended her husband's positions, including his advocacy of the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts in 1797. She also maintained correspondence with political leaders, such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, even after her husband's loss in the 1801 election. Abigail Adams's letters provide valuable insight into the social and political climate of the Revolutionary and Early National periods in American history. Her contributions and advocacy for women's rights continue to be recognised and admired.
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Frequently asked questions
Abigail Adams wanted women to have more legal protections and property rights, especially within marriages. She also wanted women to have more representation in politics and for their voices to be heard.
In her letter, Adams urged her husband to ""remember the ladies"" and to be "more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors". She also wrote, "Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could."
John Adams did not take his wife's letter seriously. In his reply, he treated her sentiments as a joke and said, "We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems."
Abigail Adams held no official political power. Her roles as wife of the Vice President, First Lady, and mother of President Quincy Adams were all unofficial positions. However, she was influential as a vital confidant and advisor to her husband, who often sought her opinions on political matters.
Abigail Adams' letter was a private first step in the fight for equal rights for women. It is recognised as a call for women's rights and representation, and it highlighted the need for women to have more legal and political power.
