Isabella Carter
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, urging him to remember the ladies when drafting the legal framework for the new government. In her letter, Adams highlighted the importance of giving women autonomy and ensuring they were not under the legal control of their husbands or fathers. She also warned that if their concerns were not addressed, women would foment a rebellion and not feel bound by laws in which they had no voice or representation. John Adams, a founding father who drafted the Massachusetts Constitution and whose work served as a model for the US Constitution, responded with a patronizing dismissal, reflecting the typical male attitude towards women's ideas and desires at the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Abigail Adams |
| Recipient of the letter | Husband, John Adams |
| Date | March 31, 1776 |
| Main request | To "remember the ladies" when drafting the Declaration of Independence |
| Specific requests | To be more generous and favourable to women than their ancestors, not to put unlimited power into the hands of husbands, and to give women a voice and representation in the law-making process |
| Tone | Assertive and ahead of its time |
| Impact | John Adams did not act on her advice, but the letter stands as an important document in the history of women's rights |
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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, urging him to "'remember the ladies'" when drafting the Declaration of Independence. In her letter, Adams argued that women should have more rights and autonomy, and not be under the legal control of their husbands or fathers. She wrote:
> "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. 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."
Adams's letter was a bold statement at a time when women's rights were often overlooked. She recognized the importance of ensuring that the rights of women were considered during the formation of a new nation. While John Adams did not act on his wife's advice, her letter stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for women's equality and representation.
The phrase "remember the ladies" has become closely associated with Abigail Adams and her advocacy for women's rights. Her letter serves as a reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing and that women's voices and participation in shaping laws and policies are crucial. Despite the progress that has been made since Adams's time, there is still work to be done to achieve full equality and ensure that the rights and interests of women are protected and promoted.
In conclusion, Abigail Adams's letter to John Adams is a powerful and timeless statement on the importance of women's rights and representation. Her words continue to resonate and inspire those working towards equality and justice for all.
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John Adams' response
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, reminding him to "remember the ladies" when drafting the US Constitution. In her letter, Abigail urged John and the other members of the Continental Congress to consider the rights of women and ensure that they were not under the legal control of their husbands and fathers. She 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, in his response letter on April 14, 1776, dismissed his wife's plea with a snarky and crude tone. He wrote:
> "As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh... 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."
John's letter demonstrates the prevailing male attitudes towards women's ideas and desires during the Federal period. He treated his wife's sentiment as a joke, showcasing the limitations of revolutionary liberty. John's response also highlights the complexity of Americans' thoughts regarding the balance between equality and liberty during the formation of a new nation.
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The Declaration of Independence
On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee of five, including John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, to draft and present the Declaration. Jefferson wrote the original draft, which was edited by Congress. The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from Great Britain. It justified the independence of the colonies, citing 27 colonial grievances against the king and asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution.
The Declaration was unanimously ratified on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, whose delegates represented each of the Thirteen Colonies. In doing so, the delegates committed an act of high treason against the Crown, punishable by torture and death.
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The US Constitution
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, in which she urged him to "remember the ladies" when drafting the legal framework for the new government. In her letter, Adams expressed her desire for women to have more autonomy and not be under the legal control of their husbands and fathers. She 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 are 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, who was serving as ambassador to Great Britain, did not take part in the Constitutional Convention. His response to his wife's plea was dismissive and patronizing, reflecting the typical male attitude towards women's ideas and desires during that period.
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Women's Suffrage
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, urging him to ""remember the ladies"" when drafting the US Constitution. In her letter, Adams asked her husband to consider improving women's standing and give them some autonomy so that they were not under the legal control of their husbands and fathers.
In the United States, the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA), formed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, sent a petition to Congress in 1871, demanding that women be granted suffrage rights and allowed to speak on the floor of Congress. The American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA), established by Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and Thomas Wentworth Higginson, submitted a similar petition in 1872, requesting that women in Washington, D.C., and the territories be permitted to vote and hold office. Despite these efforts, there was strong opposition to women's enfranchisement. The Congressional resolution proposing to extend the right to vote to women was passed in 1919 and became the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1920.
The journey towards women's suffrage in the United Kingdom was also challenging. The first mass-suffrage petition was presented in 1866, and in 1910, British suffragists marched on the Houses of Parliament, only to be jeered at by spectators. It was not until 1918 that the Representation of the People Act was passed, granting women over 30 who met certain property requirements the right to vote.
The struggle for women's suffrage extended beyond the United Kingdom and the United States. In the 19th and 20th centuries, women in various countries and colonies, including Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Canada, Germany, and India, gained the right to vote. However, there were notable exceptions, such as France, Greece, and Switzerland, where women's suffrage was achieved later.
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Frequently asked questions
Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, on March 31, 1776, urging him to "remember the ladies" when drafting the US Constitution.
"Remember the ladies" was a plea for women's rights and autonomy. Abigail Adams wanted the new government to give women some independence so that they were not under the complete legal control of their husbands and fathers.
No, the US Constitution did not specifically mention women and did not prohibit states from establishing gender-based voting restrictions.
John Adams's response was patronizing and dismissive. He wrote to his wife saying, "As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh."
