Between the years of 1776 and 1876, a key change came about in America over the women. Before these dates, women were not considered to be very important to the community. The only major role they played was raising children and bringing food to the table. Since the years of the Revolution and the Constitutional Convention, however, the nation nearly doubled its geographic boundaries and its population. When the Market Revolution hit America, many people felt isolated and cut off from traditional sources of comfort and community. In order to regain the sense of comfort that America once had, many people, especially women, created and sought after societies of reform. They felt very inspired, considering the Second Great Awakening just ended. In doing so, the control of the nation's future slowly returned to the citizens of the United States. In a letter to her husband, Abigail Adams asked him to remember the ladies, and "to be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors". She goes on to warn John Adams not to put unrestricted power into the hands of men (Doc B). Abigail wrote this letter in light of the new position women are representing. The women finally decided to take action and rebel against how their ancestors have lived in the past. John Adams responded to Abigail's letter in a mocking way (Doc C). He scorned her and laughed at how seriously she was taking the matter. Out of frustration, Abigail wrote to one of her close friends, saying, "I think I will get you to join me in a petition to Congress" (Doc D). The chain of letters reveals the beginning of a major change that will happen in the near future supporting the development of women's rights. Industrialization had a major impact on the lives of every American, including women. Before the era of industrialization, around the 1790's, a typical home scene depicted women carding and spinning while the man in the family weaves (Doc F). One statistic shows that men dominated women in the factory work, while women took over teaching and domestic services (Doc G). This information all relates to the changes in women because they were being discriminated against and given children's work while the men worked in factories all day. Women wanted to be given an equal chance, just as the men had been given.
Over 1,000 letters written between the years of 1762-1801 Abigail Adams stood up for the rights of women. Dated March 31, 1776 Abigail Adams writes to her husband John Adams. She wrote to urge not only him, but the other manly figures of the Continental Congress to “remember the ladies” when in conflict for America’s independence from Great Britain. The future first lady had written in part “I long to hear that you have declared an independency. 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 favorable to them than your
Adams recognized the limited role women were allowed to play in the world at that time. However, she insisted that a woman's role carried an equal amount of importance and responsibility to a man's. She believed that women deserved the opportunities and rights including education and that that would enable them to live to their fullest capacity. She believed that education was as important for women as for men. Educational courses were not taught to women, but Abigail persisted in self-education. She received little formal education; just enough to manage her duties as a housewife and mother; but was encouraged to pursue what were considered more feminine pastimes, such as sewing, music, letter writing, and hosting. She always complained of being denied the proper education necessary to bring her spelling, punctuation, and grammar up to literary standards of her day. The lack of knowledge in these areas is apparent in her letters. She even created her own words. She agreed with other women that if mothers were in charge of early education for their children, they must be educated to be able to perform this duty. Her commitment to promoting education for women was so strong that she pressed her husband to inco...
Abigail Adams’ first priority were her children, because as a woman during this time period, domestic living was important to a functioning and normal family. Her motherly instinct shined throughout as Adams opens up the letter to John Quincy Adams with “My dear son,” calling him “my son” on various occasions, naming herself as a “tender parent” and ending it with “your ever affectionate mother.” This showed her loving affection towards him as she took pride in her son by calling him hers. “Abigail Adams wrote that “if I [Adams] had thought your [John Quincy Adams] reluctance arose from
Her most common method of proving her argument is through direct quotes from the women. The quotes come from letters she read through that were written by either the woman herself, or the ladies husbands. Fox example, in a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail he says “I must entreat you, my dear partner in all the joys and sorrow, prosperity and adversity fo my life, to take a part with me in the struggle”. Roberts includes this as evidence to prove that the Founding Fathers needed their women to play their part. This part being helping the men in their everyday lives such as making decisions, keeping him in order and taking care of the things he wasn’t. John relied very much on Abigail, and Abigail was sure to put her word in on the decisions her husband made. She tells her husband to “remember the ladies”. This is one of the most famous lines from Abigail’s letters, telling Adam to not forget about the women during the Continental Congress in Philadelphia 1776, when fighting for America’s independence from Great
Railroads opened new areas as settlement and stimulated the mining and manufacture. At the same time, the telegraph appeared. It brought uniform price of the country. Because of these improvements, many people migrated to west. The market revolution and westward expansion heightened the nation’s sectional divisions. The most dynamic feature of the American economy in the beginning of the nineteenth century was the rise of the Cotton Kingdom. But the increasing demand of cotton lead to larger number of slaves. For white people, westward expansion was a chance to get more freedom, but for black people, it means that they would have less freedom and their families will be broken. In the north, Market Revolution turned it to commercial system. Farmers focus on producing crops and livestocks. In some industries, the factory superseded traditional craft production. Both men and women could earn money by taking jobs from factories. Market Revolution changed the time concept of Americans. In cities, time of work and relax is divided clearly. Early New England textile mills largely relied on female and child labor.
Hamilton). A leader is not judged by a standard of their choice but rather the choice of the masses. This is not to say that the majority of people can determines who has the right to rule and maintain rule but the ones who possess the majority of power. This is true when reading the “Letter to Reverend Occum by Wheatley”; when Wheatley writes “to convince (slave owners) of the strong absurdity of their conduct.”(P. Wheatley) she means to plea for equality. Although many black slaves wanted equality, and there were certainly more slaves than slave owners, the slaves lacked the power for freedom. It is correct in saying that the right to rule can be granted and maintained over a powerless population. Regardless of what the people want, power will always determine change. Women of the 18th century understood their position in society and how to change it. Such as Abigail Adams as she writes a letter to John Adams in 1776 as an attempt to gain marginal rights for women. When Abigail writes “I cannot say that I think you are very generous to the ladies; for whilst you are proclaiming peace and good-will to men… you insist upon retaining an absolute power over wives.” (A. Adams). Abigail Adams knows that her position in society only grants marginal power, that is why she attempts to make change through the people who have power. But in the end John Adams introvertly views his right to rule as a reason to retaining absolute power over women. Therefor women later in the 19th century would attempt to target and unite a broader audience that could sum up to the majority power. A leader of this majority of power was Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Stanton pointed out that “the history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward women”(E. Stanton). By doing so Stanton was able to receive signatures from 68 women
During the late 1700’s, the United States was no longer a possession of Britain, instead it was a market for industrial goods and the world’s major source for tobacco, cotton, and other agricultural products. A labor revolution started to occur in the United States throughout the early 1800’s. There was a shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial market system. After the War of 1812, the domestic marketplace changed due to the strong pressure of social and economic forces. Major innovations in transportation allowed the movement of information, people, and merchandise. Textile mills and factories became an important base for jobs, especially for women. There was also widespread economic growth during this time period (Roark, 260). The market revolution brought about economic growth through new modes of transportation, an abundance of natural resources, factory production, and banking and legal practices.
As we see in this letter, Abigail is explaining her views and beliefs on the unequal treatment of women. In the last paragraph she says, “We have it in our power, not only to free ourselves, but to subdue our masters, and without violence, throw both you natural and legal authority at our feet.” In this sentence she effectively but, gracefully explains that women are capable of throwing the established government out the window in order to be treated the way they want and deserve. The equal education that she had received made her credible and a good advocate for all women in the
When John was away from home in Massachusetts, which occurred quite greatly, Abigail would take charge of taking care of the household both physically by maintaining its appearance and financially paying off taxes on it. She would also express her political opinions to her husband and advise him on certain matters even during his presidency. By doing these things, she realized that even though she could not take part in the jobs and responsibilities of men, as a women she could supervise them. She felt she couldn’t stand in the sidelines and just do nothing. Without directly being involved in them, Abigail maintained an active role in politics throughout her
On March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams writes to her husband, John Adams, urging him and the other members of the Continental Congress to remember the nation’s women when fighting for America’s independence from Great Britain. Moreover, this letter is a claim merely reporting in a neutral fashion because, some men were not supportive towards women’s rights during the Revolutionary era. For example, Abigail Adams writes, “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 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.” Likewise, Mrs. Adams views this letter as a demand. She is stating that if this demand is not met, the North American women are determined to form a rebellion and will not bound themselves by any laws in which they have no voice or representation. Furthermore, this
...s that they weren’t just slaves; they were women, sisters, wives, and daughters, just like the white women (DOC C). The women of this time period reached out to expand ideals by showing men that women were going to be involved in political affairs, and they had a right to do so.
These women stood by their beliefs, wanting to improve the new republic, seeing it as a way to help better the lives of all citizens. Stanton's writing "Declaration of
From a young age, Abigail was centred around her the governmental and political views of both her parents and other influential nationalist figures. Abigail believed that the ties between Great Britain and its colonies should be severed. One such example came after Britain’s rejection of the Olive Branch Petition. Abigail is quoted to have said: “Let us separate, they are unworthy to be our Brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications as formerly for their prosperity and happiness, Let us beseech the almighty to blast their counsels and bring to Nought all their
In, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” written by Benjamin Franklin (one of the Founding Fathers) in 1747, brought up the disparities that were between men and women within the judicial system. Also, “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” also briefly points out, how religion has been intertwined with politics. All throughout “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker,” Benjamin Franklin uses very intense diction and syntax to help support what he is trying to express to the rest of society. Also writing this speech in the view point of a women, greatly helps establish what he is trying to say. If Benjamin Franklin was to write it as a man, the speech my have not had the same passionate effect as it currently has.
The Market Revolution, from 1790 to 1840, inspired by the developments of commercialization, industrialization and the advances in transportation altered the lives of Americans in areas such as labor, transportation, commercialization, family life, new values and the new middle class. American entrepreneurs with new technology created an entirely different economy which shaped and affected all other aspects of society. The Market Revolution gradually shifted society from a rural agricultural lifestyle to the focus of work in the urban cities as it is today. While the vast majority of American citizens participated in agriculture and farming in 1800, the percent of farmers working in 2013 is less than 1 percent: this is the everlasting effect of the Market Revolution.