read the following excerpt from the march 31, 1776, letter from abigail adams to john adams.
Excerpt from the March 31, 1776, letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams:
"John, 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 are 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."
Explanatory Answer:
In this excerpt from a letter written by Abigail Adams on March 31, 1776, to her husband John Adams, Abigail passionately advocates for women’s rights and requests that her husband considers the importance of women having a voice and representation in society. She expresses her concerns about men abusing their power and treating women as subordinate to them.
Abigail Adams challenges the traditional gender roles of the time by urging John Adams to “remember the ladies” and suggests that men should be more generous and favorable towards women. She argues against the notion of unlimited power being placed solely in the hands of husbands, emphasizing that if women are not given proper care and attention, they will rebel against the unequal treatment and lack of representation.
She acknowledges the established truth that men are naturally inclined towards tyranny but appeals to the better nature of men to treat women as friends rather than masters. Abigail questions why the vicious and lawless individuals can use cruelty and indignity against women without consequences and calls for men of sense to reject customs that treat women as mere vassals.
Abigail asserts that women are beings placed under men’s protection and implores men to use their power for the happiness and well-being of women. This excerpt showcases Abigail Adams’ strong advocacy for women’s rights and equality, highlighting her progressive views during a time when gender inequality was deeply entrenched in society.