About This Lesson
Women had influence in politics, though often through their husbands. Women like Abigail Adams, the wife of Massachusetts Congressional Delegate John Adams, influenced politics as did Mercy Otis Warren.
It was Abigail Adams who famously and voluminously corresponded with her husband while he was in Philadelphia, reminding him that in the new form of government that was being established he should “remember the ladies” or they too, would foment a revolution of their own.
Warren, just as politically astute as Adams, was a prolific writer, not only recording her thoughts about the confluence of events swirling around Boston but also dabbling in playwriting. She was a fierce devotee to the patriot cause, writing in December 1774, four months before the war broke out at Lexington and Concord, “America stands armed with resolution and virtue, but she still recoils at the idea of drawing the sword against the nation from whence she derived her origin.”
Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Knowledge
- Explain the limitations and new opportunities that women experienced with politics during the Revolutionary War era.
- Discuss the contributions and legacies of Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren during the American Revolution.
2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis
- Read through primary and secondary source documents and consider the political and legal issues that were important to some women during the American Revolution.
3. Evaluation
- Consider how the American Revolution affected women’s lives and political interests and if they led the way for future political achievements and rights for American women in other decades.
This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to NCSS and Common Core Standards.
This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.
