From the very beginning, attitudes concerning women, Anne, in this, the Land of the Free...


As to the Constitution of the United States:

'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 favourable 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 Laidies 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 Why then, not put it out of the power of the vicious and the Lawless to use us with cruelty and indignity with impunity.'

--Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776

'As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh. We have been told that our Struggle has loosened the bands of Government every where. That Children and Apprentices were disobedient--that schools and Colledges were grown turbulent--that Indians slighted their Guardians and Negroes grew insolent to their Masters. But your Letter was the first Intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented Depend upon it, We know better than to repeal our Masculine systems We have only the Name of Masters. and rather than give up this, which would compleatly subject Us to the Despotism of the Peticoat, I hope General Washington, and all our brave Heroes would fight.'

--John Adams to Abigail Adams, April 14, 1776

I can not but notice, John Adams's rather amused, patronizing tone, when answering what I believe was his wife's earnest recommendation.

Religion, Race, and Gender in Revolutionary America