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 ...
