Welcome to Women’s History Month. Observed as a result of presidential proclamation, the focus of this holiday is to celebrate women and raise awareness of their role in our country’s history. More than famous names and faces, the holiday causes us to pause, to see women who may have worked behind the scenes.
I absolutely love learning about American history, especially the women who were involved throughout the development of our country. This month, I want to take some time to discuss some of the lesser known women and their contributions, as well as some of the more famous ladies, starting with my favorite Founding Mother.
“Remember the ladies”: Many have heard the phrase but are unaware of its origin. Colonist Abigail Adams faithfully corresponded with her husband John Adams throughout their marriage. In fact, much of the early years of their courtship and marriage was spent apart. The result was over one thousand letters between the couple. While writing to John, who was at the Continental Congress in Philadelphia where the men were making plans to continue their war for independence from the British who ruled the colony, Abigail penned the famous line.
…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.
That your Sex are Naturally Tyrannical is a Truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of Master for the more tender and endearing one of Friend. Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity. Men of Sense in all Ages abhor those customs which treat us only as the vassals of your Sex. Regard us then as Beings placed by providence under your protection and in imitation of the Supreme Being make use of that power only for our happiness.
–excerpt from a letter written by Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776, as found on Massachusetts Historical Society online archive
Unfortunately, the entreaty was not heeded by the Founding Fathers. This is considered the first recorded petition for women’s rights to the American government. It would take many more voices and more than a century before women across the nation were guaranteed voting rights by the 19th Amendment in 1920.