Too often in society women are belittled because of their gender, despite their numerous abilities and achievements. Women all over the world fall victims, and struggle to become survivors, of inequality against their male counterparts. Although some improvements have been made over time, there is still much progress to be done in order to establish an equality between men and women in all aspects of life, not just in a few token areas. During the eighteenth century, a few women became advocates for women’s rights and fought for individual freedoms that were attainable for men but rarely for women. One of these advocates was Abigail Adams, first lady to the second President, John Adams. Abigail, a devout wife and American citizen, was more than just a first lady to the president. She was an early feminist voice who refused to stand by and allow women to be suppressed of their capabilities and their rights.
In order to comprehend why Abigail felt so strongly and fought so vigorously for her beliefs, it is important first to understand how her beliefs became rooted. Abigail was the second out of four children from William Smith and Elizabeth Quincy. Her father was a minister of North Parish Congregational Church of Weymouth in Massachusetts colony; her mother Elizabeth was a typical housewife and mother. Abigail was fortunate enough to be born into such an eminent family in New England with a prosperous lineage of statesman, ministers, and merchants. She was raised in a household that wholeheartedly affirmed the beliefs of rational Puritanism, a solid Christian faith, and a strong education.1
From an early age, Abigail was introduced to the limitations of women by being unable to attend school. Growing up in the eighteenth century, education was highly sought after; however, education was primarily for boys, not girls. Boys had the opportunity to study various subjects, such as Latin, math, French, literature, and Greek. Elite families often prepared their boys to receive a higher education, either at Harvard College or abroad. Since girls were not permitted to attend school, Abigail was educated at home. Though her education did include some rudimentary training in academic areas such as reading and writing, most of her education focused on becoming a traditional housewife and mother. She observed her mother in common domestic skills such as sewing, cooking, and home maintenance.2
Her most significant influence occurred around the time of the Revolutionary War, which was a time of extreme stress and chaos for the young republic. This was a time when participation of every American became absolutely imperative in order to win not only the war, but also to restructure the country afterwards. Despite the circumstances, the social conditions for women went largely unchanged. During the Revolutionary War, while many of the men were away serving the war effort, the women were left in charge of the businesses and farms. The towns and cities were left with impoverished women who were often driven to lead protests and riots against price increases, as well as resorting to looting for food. In other parts of the country, women began to fight back against British troops, whom they were forced to quarter during the war. Some women either by choice, force, or desperation, traveled to the Patriot army camps to live with their male relatives.3
After the women began migrating to the camps, many men became hostile and voiced brutal complaints against the women. One man even expressed a barbarous comment about women, claiming “their falling, their brows beady with the heat, their belongings, slung over one shoulder, chattering and yelling in sluttish shrills as they went.”4 George Washington himself even believed the females to be disruptive and a distraction to the troops. In reality, women were actually a great asset and made major contributions towards the war effort. Most women performed domestic duties such as cooking, laundry, nursing, and even boosting the morale of the soldiers. Some women went beyond the normal expectations and became involved in the combat.5
By the end of the war, the views and standards of women had remained the same as at the outset. Many women began to question their place in society, including Abigail Adams. As early as March 31, 1776, while her husband was in Philadelphia forming a new government, Abigail wrote a letter to her husband, John, imploring him to expand women’s rights to become equal with the rights of men:
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 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.6
Abigail was making her purpose clear and made sure it was known that women would no longer stand for unfair and unjust treatment.
Abigail continued to fight for the rights of women for the rest of her life. Although she was most known for her strong tone in her letters, she was also a major advocate for the right of education for women. Abigail became one of the most literate and politically-powerful women of her time.7 Her ideals, courage to voice her intellectual opinions, and ability to stand up for her beliefs is what established the main attraction between her and John. Abigail was able to maintain the perfect image of the domestic housewife, mother, and First Lady to the President of the United States. Abigail tread a path for women which is still being followed today. Hopefully her beliefs and visions for the equality of women will one day come true.
- Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2016, s.v. “Abigail Adams” by Mary E. Virginia. ↵
- Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2016, s.v. “Abigail Adams” by Mary E. Virginia. ↵
- Alan Brinkley, American History: Connecting with the Past Volume 1, 15 edition (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015), 147. ↵
- Brinkley, American History: Connecting with the Past, 147. ↵
- Brinkley, American History: Connecting with the Past, 147. ↵
- Abigail Adams, “Abigail Adams’ Letters to John Adams March 31, 1776,” Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive. Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/. ↵
- Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia, 2016, s.v. “Abigail Adams” by Mary E. Virginia. ↵
85 comments
Seth Roen
This is an excellent article on the beginning of women’s rights in the US and one of its founders Abigail Adams. She used the same argument that her husband and many others used to gain freedom from Great Britain. While also throwing the view that without women, men become savages. Guest the saying, “behind every great man is an even greater woman.”
Angelo Oliva-Noeggerath
The article is very detailed and was informative about Abigail Adams. Abigail Adams and her effect on women’s rights and basically women’s suffrage progress was a big push. The pictures further show us how her efforts and letters she had written were to effect. The photos better help the reader understand who Abigail was as well. The article further summarizes Abigail’s actions and the effect it made very well and is able to connect and portray it wonderfully to the reader.
Amelie Rivas-Berlanga
Abigail Adams was an advocate for women’s right to an education. I’ve only read a little about her impact on women’s rights, but reading more in depth about the things she did is amazing. As a female education major this article means a lot to me. During the Revolutionary War women were left to run society. After the war they started questioning their role in society and things started to change. Great article!
Travis Green
Very informative and well written article. I really felt like I learned something that I didn’t know before. Abigail Adams is a really underrated figure in history I feel she doesn’t get the credit she deserves. I feel like her contributions shouldn’t be ignored because she helped get women’s suffrage and they’re rights to education on track. I feel if it wasn’t for her we would have gotten those things a little later than we did.
Jourdan Carrera
This article does an excellent job in covering the American revolution from the perspective of feminism. Too often scholar works are focused on the battles and politics, and while all of that is still very important, many groups who, although did participate in these various areas, are often left on the sidelines due to their social status in society at the time. The article does a great job covering the letter sent by Abigail Adams to her husband as well as detailing the life of Abigail Adams in her early life and why she is rembered as the woman she was.
Eliana Villarreal
This is a great article about the impact Abigail Adams had on the role of women during the Revolutionary War. It’s unfortunate that she could not earn much of an education growing up due to the social norms of boys receiving an education over girls, but it is apparent that she had a desire to learn, even if it was house duties. I believe that effort helped her in the long run so that she could stand up for other women during the war. She was not afraid to speak up in not only her defense, but other women’s defense too. She was such a strong and admirable first lady.
Ariette Aragon
Very well-written article, Mia! I only knew Abigail Adams as the wife of the second President of the United States John Adams, and it makes me really happy that you shared her true and deep story. Also, the pictures you showed caught my attention, especially the written letter that Abigail sent to John while he was forming a new government. It is disappointing thinking about how the world used to revolve around men and women were so mistreated. She was brave and is very inspiring for me.
Aidan Fitzgerald
Hello Mia, I very much enjoyed this article. I believe you make some very important points and then back them up by then relating it to the life of Abigail Adams. and how she was a major advocate for women’s rights. I think the letter you included in this article written to her husband is of extreme importance. Asking to give women power to one of the most powerful men in the American Revolution was a major step for women in the right direction, and it shows the type of person Abigail Adam’s was. As you said women’s rights are still not at a standard we would call “acceptable” but women like Abigail Adam’s are the reason there was initial change in the first place.
Perla Ramirez
Women have always had the short en do the stick. They are always put in last and often all there effort is gone unnoticed. Abigail Adams was one of the most influential women because she changed the perspective of women. They were no longer just “housewives” they could do much more than that now. Fore example, she couldn’t attend school like the other boys instead she was taught taught at home. But she was taught how to sew and cook.
Sabrina Drouin
This was such a well written article, I loved how you included a part of the “Remember the Ladies” letter in your article because it really brings to life the purpose that she had behind that letter. It’s cool to think about the origins and beginnings of feminism and women’s rights and this article really comes to show how these powerful figures had to get rights for women across the country.