Briana Gonzales
Bmg2893
12/6/2024
Final Essay: Prompt #3
In the early beginnings of the United States, Abigail Adams wrote a moving letter to her
husband, John Adams, on March 31, 1776, pleading with him to "remember the ladies" as the
Continental Congress laid the foundations for a new government.1 This letter is a call for gender
equality and serves as an important entry point into a comprehensive exploration of the shifting
landscape of women's lives from 1607 to 1865. Diving into the historical context of the letter, the
overarching question unfolds: To what extent did the circumstances of women change during
these centuries, and what roles did gender, race, and class play in shaping their destinies? To
answer this question, we should first look to colonial America, where socially constructed roles
confined women to an assigned role. From there, we should look through the Revolutionary and
early republic periods, witnessing glimpses of women challenging traditional norms. The
antebellum and Civil War era unfold as complex chapters, weaving together the threads of
women's experiences against the backdrop of gender, race, and class dynamics. This exploration
aims to unravel not only the evolution of women's lives but also the intricate interplay of societal
forces that either fortified or unraveled the fabric of their existence.
In colonial America, society was carefully designed to limit women to specific roles in a
domestic setting. Cultural norms dictated that women were primarily responsible for managing
household affairs, looking after children, and upholding societal virtues. The legal framework of
the time reinforced these roles, with marital union laws incorporating married women's legal
identities under those of their husbands. The concept of femme covert was the idea that a married
1
Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31-April 5, 1776, Braintree.
Briana Gonzales
Bmg2893
12/6/2024
woman's legal existence was, in essence, absorbed by her husband. Economic activities were
also restricted, as women's opportunities outside the household were severely limited. The
prevailing religious ethos, deeply embedded in the Puritan beliefs of early colonial settlements,
further solidified these gender norms. Women were expected to embody piety and modesty, with
their spiritual roles often confined to the private domain.2 Thus, the colonial era cast women into
prescribed roles that were meticulously defined by social expectations, legal constraints, and
religious doctrines, setting the stage for the evolving narrative of women's lives in the centuries
to come.
The Revolutionary period ignited a spark of change in the narrative of women's lives in
colonial America. The rhetoric of liberty, equality, and individual rights that permeated the
revolutionary ideals inevitably resonated with women seeking an expanded role in the unfolding
drama of the new nation.3 While the revolutionary intensity did not immediately dismantle the
deeply ingrained gender norms, it provided a platform for reevaluating women's contributions.
The war effort itself created opportunities for women to step beyond their traditional roles,
assuming responsibilities left vacant by men deployed to the battlefield. Moreover, the
revolutionary discourse on rights and representation sparked conversations about the status of
women within the emerging republic. Abigail Adam’s impassioned plea to "remember the ladies"
in the crafting of new laws echoed the sentiments of many women who sought a more substantial
and equitable role in the political and social fabric of the nation.4 So, during the Revolutionary
2
"The Trial of Anne Hutchinson (1637)," accessed [12/6/2023], [Thomas Hutchinson: “The
Examination of Mrs. Ann Hutchinson at the Court of Newtown.”]
3
Harriet H. Robinson, “Early Factory Labor in New England,” in Massachusetts Bureau
of Statistics of Labor, Fourteenth Annual Report (Boston: Wright & Potter, 1883).
4
Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31-April 5, 1776, Braintree.
Briana Gonzales
Bmg2893
12/6/2024
period, important changes began in women's lives as the young nation dealt with the effects of its
new principles.
The antebellum and Civil War era witnessed a complex interplay of societal forces that
both restrained and propelled women's lives. As the country faced problems between different
areas and the possibility of a Civil War, women's roles got more complicated. On the one hand,
the prevailing ideology of true womanhood, emphasizing religiousness, purity, submission, and
domesticity, sought to confine women to the private realm.5 However, the pressures of war
compelled women to step into new roles, taking on responsibilities traditionally reserved for
men. Women on both sides of the conflict assumed pivotal roles in supporting the war effort,
from nursing wounded soldiers to managing households in the absence of husbands and sons.6
The abolitionist movement and debates over slavery further spurred discussions on women's
rights. Many women, including Mary Smith, began to comment more on political events and the
role women play in supporting the nation's interests.7 While the war did not immediately reshape
gender norms, it catalyzed a shift, laying the groundwork for future challenges to traditional
expectations. The antebellum and Civil War period thus became a crucible where women
navigated the tensions between societal constraints and expanding aspirations for greater agency
and equality.8
Throughout the centuries encompassing 1607-1865, the dynamics of gender, race, and
class intricately intertwined to shape the contours of women's lives in America. Each factor had a
significant impact, but one could argue that race played the most important role in shaping
5
Eliza Wilkinson, "Women in South Carolina Experience Occupation, 1780."
6
Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1787, Founders Online, National Archives.
7
Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams, 9 February 1787, Founders Online, National Archives.
8
Eliza Wilkinson, "Women in South Carolina Experience Occupation, 1780."
Briana Gonzales
Bmg2893
12/6/2024
women's experiences. The racialized lens through which society viewed women compounded the
challenges faced by those at the intersection of gender and race. African American women, for
instance, confronted a unique set of struggles, contending not only with gender norms but also
with the pervasive institution of slavery and the racial prejudices of the time. The legacy of
slavery cast a long shadow on the experiences of women of color, influencing their roles in both
domestic and labor spheres. The simultaneous negotiation of gender and race added layers of
complexity to their lives, accentuating the disparities within the overarching struggle for
women's rights. While class distinctions also played a pivotal role, particularly in shaping the
opportunities available to women, the racial lens eclipsed other factors in defining the contours
of their experiences. In dissecting the intricate web of gender, race, and class dynamics, it
becomes evident that race stood as the most formidable force shaping women's lives during this
transformative period.
Exploring women's lives from 1607 to 1865 reveals a complicated story influenced by
gender, race, and class. In the colonial era, societal norms limited women to certain roles, leading
to a desire for change.The Revolutionary period planted seeds of change, with women stepping
into newfound roles driven by the ethos of liberty and equality. The antebellum and Civil War
period witnessed a dynamic interplay of societal forces, where the prevailing ideology of true
womanhood clashed with the demands of war, propelling women into unconventional roles. As
we dissect the intricate dynamics of gender, race, and class, it becomes apparent that the
experiences of women were profoundly shaped by the racial lens. African American women, in
particular, navigated the intersecting struggles of gender, race, and slavery, underscoring the
prominence of race in defining their lives. In this exploration, it’s evident that the evolution of
Briana Gonzales
Bmg2893
12/6/2024
women's lives act as a nuanced interplay of societal norms, transformative events, and the
intricate dynamics of gender, race, and class. Reflecting on this transformative era, it becomes
evident that the legacy of race cast the longest and most profound shadow on the contours of
women's lives, leaving a permanent mark on the trajectory of their journey toward equality and
agency.
