Even though Alicia Keys made the song in 2001, the conversation about a woman’s worth was happening centuries before. Today we have the entire month of March dedicated to honoring the achievements of American Women. How did we get here? Who was involved? Well, welcome to your quick highlight reel in Women’s History.
July 4, 1776. Does this date ring a bell? It is the day the fledgling United States of America won independence. What some may not know is that prior to the country’s independence there was a woman, a wife to one of the founding fathers, pleading for women’s rights. Her name was Abigail Adams.
According to the Massachusetts Historical Society, In a letter dated Mar. 31 1776 Mrs Adams wrote to her husband, “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.”
Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, fought against slavery and pushed for women’s education
This letter from the nation’s second first lady was a very eloquent push for women’s rights. Jumping ahead almost 200 years for the next highlight, welcome to Aug. 18, 1920. This is the day the 19th Amendment was ratified.
As cited in the Archives of the US Government, the amendment states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
Susan B. Anthony was one of the most prominent figures when it came to women’s suffrage
This mile marker in Women’s History was a grueling journey that actually began in the 1800s. One of the key women behind this effort was Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was involved in spearheading for Congress the 19th Amendment, which was nicknamed the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.
Just jumping ahead about 70 years brings us to 1987 and our last highlight. March 1987 was proclaimed Women’s History Month by President Reagan. This came about due to efforts by Gerda Lerner. Lerner held a 15-day conference about women’s history in 1979. Over the years the conference spread and grew, until Women’s History Week became Women’s History Month.
Lerner is known as the “godmother of women’s history” who promoted women historians and scholars
This concludes the a highlight reel of Women’s History. Its brevity does not begin to do Women’s History justice but it should pique your interest. To list the number of women’s contributions would be impossible. Truth be told, without women there is no history.
Even, though that was, is and will always be true, women have continued to fight for equal rights with men. While there have been many victories over the years there remains much more work to be done. We all can play a role in creating equality for everyone. What contribution will you make to women’s history?
April Littleton, Reporter
(Featured Image from Canva)