John Adams Women's Rights Essay

The American Revolution was a very crucial point during the time of 1775 to 1783. The American colonies fought again the British Empire to gain independence. John Adams who was a lawyer and political diplomat as well as becoming the second president of the United States, was a key figure during the American Revolution. John Adams traveled with other key figures like Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington and Paul Revere to establish a new government. During this time period women were considered to be inferior to men and did not have as many rights. Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams was one of the first advocates for women’s rights. She wrote letters to her husband while on his travels urging him to “remember the ladies” in

Abigail asks John to remember the rights of women as they come up with the new code of laws or better known as the Declaration of Independence. She asks that he not allow married men to have too much power and warns him that if the ladies are not given what they deserve that they will act out in a rebellion and rise above men similar to the rebellion of the colonists. She writes that women do not deserve to be treated as property or as a servant to a master but that they should be considered ones friend. One of the most sensitive lines she writes is “Men of sense in all ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your sex”. She points out the cruel nature of men and that women are far more deserving. According to her she believes that women are being treated just as badly by their husbands as they are being treated by the British. Even though Abigail is the point of view of these letters, her voice is for other women who wish to express the same feelings. When reading the letter it is more of a sense that Abigail wishes for more power. Even though she is pushing for women’s rights, its seems that she just wants men to understand that women can do other things and be considered someone of a higher position. Abigail is already of a higher position considering she is a free white women in a higher class, it is interesting to read that she recognizes that she is not settled with just being free but that she believes women are more then the label they have been