Question

Read this letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams and answer the question: "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 perticular 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."

In a paragraph, Identify Abigail Adams request to John and analyze how her request was influenced by the ideals of the American Revolution.

Answer 1

Abigail Adams' request to John Adams emphasizes the need for women's rights and representation in the new code of laws being established during the American Revolution. She implores him to “Remember the Ladies” and to ensure that the laws do not grant unlimited power to husbands, suggesting that unchecked male authority could lead to tyranny. Her plea is rooted in the revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality, which were being championed in the struggle for independence from British rule. Abigail's argument reflects the larger context of the Revolution, where notions of rights and representation were being passionately debated; she effectively aligns her call for women's rights with the very principles of justice and representation that were driving the fight for independence. By asserting that women would “foment a Rebellion” if their voices were ignored, she highlights the urgency of inclusion in a nation that was being founded on the principles of freedom and equality, drawing a parallel between the struggle against British tyranny and the oppression faced by women in patriarchy.