Introduction
While politics is usually believed to be created and ruled by men, the role of females’ in shaping out the history of the country is also significant. Some women have done much more than men by attempting to assert their rights and fight for equality. Abigail Adams, Molly Brant, Mary Still – these are but a few of many names of prominent female activists of different periods in the country’s history. The role of these and other women in the development of the US as a powerful country cannot be overestimated. Females’ dedication to their country and desire to defend their rights changed the course of America’s history many a time, allowing modern society to be based on the principles of fairness and equity.
Abigail Adams’s fight for equal rights
One of the most notable women in US history was Abigail Adams. Being a wife of John Adams, the second US President, this woman never ceased trying to impact her husband’s opinion on women’s rights. Her most prominent achievement was “Remember the Ladies” – a letter to John Adams in which she asked him to give proper consideration to females (Hubbard-Brown 32). Abigail was not a politician, but she was a revolutionist by nature. She emphasized the importance of giving women the same freedoms as men had (Hubbard-Brown 32). Adams managed to convince her husband to entitle the women with some rights previously owned only by males.
Property rights and will
Another opinion of Abigail Adams which helped change the course of the country’s history was her attitude towards property rights. In the eighteenth century, women were not entitled to any possibility to own property. Even if they managed to earn something, they were not allowed to distribute their earnings the way they wanted. Abigail was the first woman to write a will and express her wish of how her property should be distributed (Holton xix). As her husband listened to his wife, he did not neglect her desire, and thus even after death, Abigail continued to change the way women were treated.
Patriotism and confidence in the nation’s powers
Women did not only fight for equality. They wanted a better life not only for themselves but for each citizen. They encouraged others to respect and admire their country. Abigail Adams’s ardent patriotism towards the US was revealed through her opinion about the Americans being “the freest and the happiest” nation (Kaminski 6). She believed America could do anything it wished with energy and power (Kaminski 5). Adams’s confidence in her nation inspired other men and women to appreciate their country.
Conclusion
In America’s history, women played a crucial role. Not only did they fight for their rights but also they fought for the best of their nation. Therefore, the study of women in US history is an important issue. In order to know how the country was shaped as a powerful institution and reached its potential, it is necessary to see who took part in its formation. Men are usually given the biggest tribute, but women are the ones whose efforts play a decisive role in many aspects of the country’s political life. Slavery abolitionism, rights for equal work and pay, the right to vote, and many other freedoms were given to women because some prominent females took a stand at some point. The role of women in US history should not be underrated.
Works Cited
Holton, Woody. Abigail Adams: A Life. Atria Paperback, 2010.
Hubbard-Brown, Janet. Abigail Adams: First Lady. Chelsea House Publishers, 2009.
Kaminski, John P. The Quotable Abigail Adams. The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2009.