FREE ESSAY ON THE ALL-AMERICAN WOMEN

THE ALL-AMERICAN WOMEN

The All-American Women
Abigail Adams an American Woman was written by Charles W. Akers. His biographical book is
centered on Abigail Adams the wife of John Adams, the second president of the United
States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president. She was the
All-American woman, from the time of the colonies to its independence. Abigail Adams was
America's first women's rights leader. She was a pioneer in the path to women in
education, independence, and women's rights. 
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
incorporate the issue into the body of laws that he and other founding fathers were
drafting in 1776. Abigail's lack of a strong formal education did not stop her from
writing, educating herself or speaking her mind. Her quest for knowledge was brave on her
part. 
As members of Congress drafted laws to guarantee the independence for which the colonies
were fighting, Abigail wrote to John begging him to remember that women also needed to be
given the right to independence. Her most famous letter about the need for women's rights
was written to John on March 31, 1776: 
I long to hear that you have declared an independence--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. 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 (Akers 48). 
Adams' ideas were shared with other women and spoke of appealing to Congress to regard
these radical issues. Congress never appealed to her bluff but as a result, John seemed
to have taken her ideas to heart and to have given the matter considerable thought as he
struggled with the issue of voters' rights. He understood that a government built on the
principles of freedom and equality and carried out with the consent of the people must by
reason include women in that equation. 
She was among the first women in the new country to begin to question a woman's rights
and role in a free society. If all men were created equal why were there restrictions on
this principle? Abigail believed women should be included in this principle. It would not
be long before other women with the same frustrations followed her lead and began working
to bring about real and lasting change. Abigail worked closely with John as he struggled
with the many issues and problems that confronted him during his presidency. John
seriously pondered her ideas while battling with the issue of voter's rights. He realized
that government ruled by the people should include women. After Abigail, many more women
of America began to inquire about women's rights and equality for all. It would be the
beginning of concept for women's civil rights. 
Abigail Adams was the first to step out of the structure for women. She had the courage
and determination to see that the concept of equality for women, such as the ability to
have an adequate education, independence and women's rights were introduced. American
women are truly lucky to have had Abigail Adams. Abigail Adams' efforts have given
education for females. Charles W. Akers, the author of Abigail Adams an American Women,
as well as I believe that if Abigail hadn't spoken out on these subjects, who else would
have? Even though she did not accomplish her crusades, she planted the idea of her goal
and objective into other minds. For her courageous foresight, women now have equal
rights. Abigail was a talented letter writer, a supporter of her husband in his long
civic career, and the mother of the most significant family dynasty in American public
life. Abigail Smith Adams was the first fully liberated woman in American history and an
inspiration to women for generations to come.