United States of Man

United States of Man

During the American Revolution, the fundamental rights of women seemed unattainable. In a period where there was relative little other choices than to obey, women grew accustom to their ill treatment -- treatment could now be likened to that of a prisoner. During this time "The United States of America" became a paradox, this name implies that all states and boundaries are equally 'United'; the irony is that 'Men' were the only ones unified. Women lived in complete obedience of their husbands and in accordance to the English law of feme-covert; however, the Deceleration of Independence and American Revolution empowered women, as seen in the powerful voices of Abigail Adams and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to help change the roles and statuses of women in the United States. The two women played major roles in stimulating the imagination of women and demanded equal rights for both men and women; their ability to help women see that they could be a part of society created a drastic demand for empowerment of women through women's rights movements.

Abigail Adams played a crucial role in the early development of women's rights during a time where there was no platform for such empowerment of women in the United States. In 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband in a rare form; she brought attention to ideas of equality between men and women. This was most considerably in response to the "Declaration of Independence" that was released earlier that year. Mrs. Adams states; "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" (Adams PAGE NUMBER). Her last statement, "all Men would be tyrants if they could," is a statement that her husband; John Adams was very well-known for saying (Adams PAGE NUMBER). Her husband, John Adams at the time was a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress from Massachusetts and later President of The United States. In her powerful, and controversial voice, she demands equal rights for both men and women. John Adams reply is an answer of absurdity, he states, "As to your extraordinary Code of Laws, I cannot but laugh" (Adams PAGE NUMBER). He then relates her rebellion to other groups including children, colleges, slaves and Indians that were also rebelling and in constant demand of greater power within their own lives and the proceedings of the new, developing nation. John Adams responds with surprise that another "tribe" grew rebellious. In fact, he purposely refers to women as a 'tribe'; this term would have been directed towards Indians, in reference to them as 'savages' and 'animals'. Abigail's reply is not restrained; she tells him that women will find a way to redeem the equality they deserve as citizens of the United States. Abigail closes her letter with a quote from Alexander Pope, which elaborates her previous statement; "Charm by accepting, by submitting sway yet have our Humour most when we obey" (Adams PAGE NUMBER). She quotes in reference to how women will smile with obedience while they plan their next act of rebellion. In this, she is clearly setting a tone for the empowerment of women within the limiting establishment they were living in, and proposing that further action be taken, both by the men of American but by the very women who were being impacted by such a restrained